Max (18 page)

Dylan Thomas

Max's teacher, Janet Turner, visits Max in hospital, and gives him a book of poetry by Dylan Thomas. She specifically marks one poem for Max to read, 'Do not go gentle into that good night'. This addresses one of the important themes in the novel, as it implores the reader to fight against death - 'Rage, rage against the dying of the light.' Later, Max thinks that Lou should have read that poem.

Task

Write a poem about the novel, or an aspect of the novel.

(For example, retell the basic plot; focus on one important event; describe a particular character; focus on an important theme; express something unsaid.)

Extension

Read Dylan Thomas' poem 'Do not go gentle into that good night', and draw parallels between it and the novel.

Reflection

'Max carefully stands in his kayak. Legs balanced, arms outstretched, he floats his way down the river. The chill of winter slaps his cheeks, jogging his memory. He remembers rats in dark tunnels, words on walls, railway bridges, kisses, waterfalls, and black crows. He remembers being rescued by Nick. He remembers.

Max breathes in and feels Lou all around him.' (pp. 173-174)

At he end of the novel we understand that Max is better, not completely, but he has definitely started to heal, he has started to 'get rid of it'. This is evident in the final image of Max in the Kayak. Here he is the physical embodiment of the balanced and centred Da Vinci figure.

More evidence for this is the way he fights to save himself when he is caught in the storm while kayaking in the inlet. The way he keeps battling even when, 'His shoulders screamed out to stop and give up, his body ached and his spirit began to tire.' (p. 168)

Still there are lots of things left unresolved:

• His relationship with his father, 'he wonders why he hasn't told his father he loves him the way he told Meg when she rescued him.' (p. 172)
  
• Defining his relationship with Mai.
  
• Graffiti
  
• Coming to terms with the spiritual feelings that have emerged as a result of the soul searching he has had to do.
  
• Resuming school.
  

Task

Predict what will happen in the next six to twelve months of Max's life.

Ultimately, Max is able to cope with the death of his best friend, because of the support he receives from family and friends. Discuss.

Even though Max raises important questions about suicide, in the end it is a life-affirming novel. Discuss.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of spirituality in the novel. Discuss.

Although Max cannot see past his own desperate situation, he is not the only character in the novel confronted by difficulty. Discuss.