Hrm, it's been quite a while since I last read it, and I think you guys are correct. The Major's hand falls on his shoulder, so he must be seeing a phantom/delusion. More when I finish this again.
Re: There is no winning. I believe that's correct, and I also believe it is intentional. It's an excellent form of population control - both from a mental and physical standpoint.
It'll take a lot more than words and guns,
A whole lot more than riches and muscle.
The hands of the many must join as one.
And together we'll cross the river.
Puscifer, "The Humbling River"
I have to agree with Jean as well. I think he had finally lost his mind - how could you not?
"People, especially children, aren't measured by their IQ. What's important about them is whether they're good or bad, and these children are bad." ~ Alan Bernard
"You needn't die happy when your day comes, but you must die satisfied, for you have lived your life from beginning to end and ka is always served." ~ Roland Deschain
I agree with Jean.
I always assumed the "dark figure" was Garraty becoming mad. After he's spent so long on the road (well, it's not actually a long time, but he has lots of experiences that he wouldn't have had that quickly in everyday life), he starts seeing the crowd as one entity, so I first thought the "dark figure" was another way of seeing the crowd, but I ended up thinking it must be madness overtaking him and he knows he can't escape it because he's become too weak to fight back.
he's definitley gone mad. i think that's the hidden secret of the long walk. there is no prize. not really. because you are insane by the time you finish the walk.
i don't think it was flagg beckoning to him, i think it was his own perception of his madness. he couldn't deal with the fact that he had literally walked everyone else into the ground. on a journey where he had begun to care for these total strangers, he had in the end beaten them all - to the death. his mind couldn't cope with that. his humanity couldn't cope with that. maybe his soul couldn't cope with that. he couldn't face the major, he couldn't face the crowd, all he could do was keep walking. and maybe run - away from what he had done.
Man, I hated the Major.
i was thinking about this when i was reading the novella.
++absolutely my ipod (but how would i charge it?)
++definitely some chocolate
++a gazillion of those crystal light peach tea things to put into my canteen
++i love my crocs so an extra pair of those, and some extra socks
++some toilet paper
++a lightweight raincoat
++hat
++jacket
but seriously, can you guys see me going without starbucks for that long?
Yeah, he was one seriously fucked-up dude, was the Major.Originally Posted by Míchéal
First time I read it, and found out about Stebbins..... and then figured that tha Major KNEW - and did nothing. What a bastard.
the major knew and used it to his advantage. but stebbins could have pulled out at either of the deadlines so he was looking for something too. and i don't think it was just the prize. he was looking to give him a giant "fuck you" maybe. it was still sad. i remember reading that part and just closing my eyes and thinking "god, what the fuck is the going on with these people?"
is the redone long walk the same book as in the collection "the bachman books"? or has it been altered?
thanks and oh good thats one i dont need to go buy then
that's what I always thought as well.
Buddy, you think you look strong? You’re wearing a cape.
I loved the book. I thought the dark figure was just him dieing. Because if u remember, when he touches Stebbins at the end, he was about to tell him that he was done and was gonna sit down, and then Stebbins died when he touched him. So yes, i believe the dark figure was death on the open road.
Toliet Paper
Extra Shoes
Hat
Dirty magazines
Futuristing enough that I imagine they'd have solar iPods?? ::shrugs::
This collecting stuff is a sickness! ~Patrick
A freaking teleportation device so I wouldn't have to die when I got my third warning.
Lots of beef jerkey
A few pair of slip on shoes
A copy of The Stand, uncut. I can read and walk pretty well.
___________________________________________
Probably my favorite non-DT SK book, maybe even my favorite SK book in general (it's neck and neck with The Wastelands/Wizard and Glass). I guess I just have a thing for dystopia.
This right here.
On my first read, I misread something because I had thought it was the Major.
On the second read, i thought maybe it was his father (because I really don't recall if it was stated on whether the squad executed him or not).
But upon my third read, I have to agree with Jean here and say that death is beckoning him. I'm also convinced that Garraty is still walking in the great beyond.
"If you have to get down but can't find the elevator, you have to do it anyway you can- even if it's with a shovel.'- The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
My avatar is my Spore creation. I call him Evil Monkey. All Hail the Evil Monkey.
Who honestly would want to sign up for that
Someone who was so desperate that they figured they had nothing to lose.
John
nobody really believes it's going to happen that way. if you read the story closely they all have their dream about what it's going to be like for them to win even though they know what it was like for the other winners (in particular the one who kept walking screaming "i can't" each time he put a foot down).
does anyone ever believe it will end a particular way for them? no. they always believe this time it will be different. i'll make it different. i'll do it better. or whatever. plus, when you're desperate, you'll do just about anything. or when you're stupid enough, for whatever reason, not to take the outs that are given you.
i find the idea that the image he sees is his father very intriguing. we don't really know what the squads did to his father - although it's heavily implied that they killed him. could it be an image of his father that he sees. death as his father? that's an interesting concept.
It's actually pretty interesting. After i finished reading the novel, i asked a few fellow pupils at school if they would be willing to participate in such a walk, where there is only one winner, and everyone else died. I explained the walk in detail, even explaining that the losers die, even their friends. A good many of the people i asked still said they would.
I think it's because it's the ultimate challenge of endurance. they want to know they they are better than everyone i nthe past THEY will come out smiling and sane. THEY will be skipping when it's over. THEY will be the best. Hint: they never are.
exactly my point. thank you razz.
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