In The Sweet Hereafter, Ansel says, "It's a way of living with tragedy, I guess, to claim after it happens that you saw it coming, as if somehow you had already made the necessary adjustments beforehand." In one or two paragraphs, discuss the other ways the characters of the novel try to explain the tragedy. What is the author saying about tragedy through Billy?
I doubt if any of our tutors has read this work.
In "The Sweet Hereafter" by Russell Banks, the characters in the novel attempt to grapple with and explain the tragedy that befalls their small town. Ansel's observation offers one perspective on how people cope with tragedy, by trying to retroactively claim they saw it coming. However, the novel also explores other ways in which the characters attempt to make sense of the tragedy.
One of these ways is through blame and seeking accountability. The characters in the story, particularly the parents of the children involved in the bus accident, attempt to assign responsibility for the tragedy. They engage in lawsuits and legal battles, hoping to find someone to hold accountable for the pain and loss they have suffered. This reflects the human desire for justice and a need to place blame on someone or something in order to make sense of the inexplicable.
Another way the characters explain the tragedy is through religion and spirituality. Billy Ansel, the father of one of the victims, turns to religious faith as a means of understanding and finding solace in the face of such profound loss. Through his faith, he seeks to find some higher purpose or meaning behind the tragedy, grappling with questions of divine intervention and fate.
Through Billy's character, the author suggests that tragedy is a deeply complex and personal experience, and people seek explanations in different ways. Some attempt to rationalize by claiming they saw it coming or assigning blame, while others turn to religion or spirituality for comfort and understanding. The author highlights that the nature of tragedy is multifaceted and cannot be easily explained or understood, emphasizing the individual and subjective nature of each person's response to such events.