ENG (12/05/07) Posting A

ENG (12/05/07) Posting A

Crisis by Robin Cook

A Medical Thriller!

Post A (12/05/07)

Vocabulary

1. debase (p.120):
v.-to reduce in quality or value; adulterate: They debased the value of the dollar.
-to lower in rank, dignity, or significance: He wouldn't debase himself by doing manual labor.
2. squint (p.125):
adj. -to look with the eyes partly closed.

Figurative Language

1. simile: "...Craig's belief flash of optimism disappeared like a drop of water on a sizzling fry pan." (p. 119)-It expresses Craig's desperation & fraustration with getting involved with the medical malpractice case.

2. comic relief/ satire: "Well, to be honest, I do have a waiting room full of patients. But I suppose they can wait since they're all dead."(p.126)-A humorous relief made by Jack, when his sister Alexis called him and asked for time to talk.

3. metaphor: "Jack knew Calvin's bark was worse than his bite." (p. 138)-comparing his boss as a dog, and describing/depicting him as an animal who is very wild, meaning very "unmannered." and all.

Quote

"I think it would be a tragedy for Craig, for me, and for the girls."
"So you still love him?"
"That's a difficult question. Put it this way: He's the father of my daughters. I know he hasn't been the best father socially, not the best husband in a traditional storybook sense, but he's been a wonderful provider,..."(p. 91)

Explanation: Alexis doesn't have an opinion, or a side chosen, about her ex-husband... May be she still loves him, or may be not. But whether which one of them is true, it is also true that she very much cares about him... What makes her to do that? No one knows yet, even herself.

How it relates to the Theme
It was an opportunity to check her minds about Craig. It was pretty weird how she could forgive & understand Craig for his going out with his secretary. But it told me that she still loving him. It would be kinda hard to relate this quote to the theme, but if we were have to, ten I'd say that it tells "love lasts until it lasts is lifetime"; telling that the love also has its life span. We'll find out about how much she loves Craig, and also how Craig can overcome his narcisism.