After The First Death

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1979

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Part 5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5 Summary

Ben’s father finally arrives at Castle at 11:25. Viewing him from a distance, Ben knows it’s his father, but there is something new about him. It takes Ben a minute to realize it, but his father looks tentative and fragile, as if he’s made of glass and “would shatter into a million pieces if he bumped into something” (82). Ben blames himself and his actions at the bus incident for his father’s change.

The visit begins awkwardly. A long silence falls, and Ben fills it with ramblings about school and classes and the other kids. All the while, his father’s face remains neutral. In an effort to get a reaction, Ben asks if Inner Delta was saved. It was. In a flashback, Ben’s father explains the details of the hijacking. The men who hijacked the bus made three demands. They wanted some prisoners released, a large sum of money, and for Inner Delta to be shut down. The first two demands are for show, and the third is the true reason for the hijacking.

Still in the flashback, Ben asks what will happen if the government doesn’t meet the demands. His father assures Ben it isn’t an issue and asks him to stay put while the situation plays out. Ben promises, but a part of him can’t believe he has anything to do with a hijacked buss of children. He feels as if someone “turned our world upside down” and wonders if it will ever be right again (90).

Part 5 Analysis

Ben’s situation changes rapidly from the days before the hijacking to the time Inner Delta learns about the bus. Though Ben is not yet part of the incident, his world shrinks to his family’s home because he is in danger due to his father’s identity. Cormier indicates that events affect more than those directly involved. In the first hours of the hijacking, Ben’s and Kate’s lives change, and though Ben is not anywhere near the bridge, the incident still puts his life in danger. Similarly, Kate helps by staying calm and tending to the children while Ben aids the situation by staying where he’s safe, making him one less factor that could lead to bloodshed on the bridge. Helping a situation does not always require being in the thick of the action. Sometimes, simply making smart decisions helps as much or more.

Much of Part 5 is a flashback. There are a few possibilities for Cormier’s stylistic decision here. First, the flashback gives the reader a glimpse of who Ben was before the bridge incident, allowing for a comparison. Showing this difference between pre-incident and post-incident Ben carries more weight than Ben simply stating he has changed. Second, telling the events in real-time allows for a greater sense of urgency and tension. The danger of the bus situation, both on and off the bridge, is clear in the way Ben’s father communicates and in the precautions he takes to ensure the safety of his son and wife. It also offers a peek at the vast resources within Inner Delta. Inner Delta has enough people to give attention to protecting loved ones, monitoring the bridge, and communicating with the government.