Page Number

Element

Quotation

So What?

Narrative Viewpoint

".when they saw a person lik 727w2216h e me driving all the way up there to the Canadian border, practically, saw me camping out in the middle of winter in a windy dingy little motel room for weeks at a time, bugging the hell out of decent people who were in depths of despair and just wanted to be left alone."

This shows that even though Mitchell is a lawyer he still understands what he does to other people. He says that he is angry and if he was not then that would not make him a good lawyer. But, what he is doing has to be done whether he or anyone else likes it. Plus, he believes that he is there for a good reason; to help out the town of Sam Dent.

Narrative Viewpoint

"Some people equally pissed off are able to focus their rage by becoming comps or soldiers or martial arts instructors; those who become lawyers, however, especially litigators like me, are a little too intelligent, or maybe too intellectual to become cops."

This quotation explains how Mitchell thinks. He believes that people that are angry can let their anger out by becoming cops or soldiers. But Mitchell thinks he is too smart to become a cop so he became a lawyer. This way he can be smart and let out his anger all in one.

Character/ Narrative Viewpoint

"I knew that someone somewhere had made a decision to cut a corner in order to save a few pennies, and now the state or the manufacturer of the bus or the town, somebody, was busy lining up a troop of smoothies to negotiate witch a bunch of grief-stricken bumpkins a settlement that wouldn't displease the accountants."

This quotation kind of shows the rage that Mitchell has in him. He has a very strong point of view just like many lawyers should have. He believes that who ever caused this accident to happen did it for a stupid reason or just by accident. He thinks that he is the best person to help out with the case.

Character

"I go someplace and look up and see where I am, and it's unexpectedly beautiful to me: my stomach tightens, and my pulse races, and this powerful blend of fear and excitement comes over me, like something dangerous is about to happen."

This is the description that Mitchell gives of Sam Dent. He believes that it is a very beautiful place and it makes him feel weird inside. It is good that he feels this way about the town because it will make him enjoy his work better and its always good to work in an environment that you feel comfortable in.

Narrative Viewpoint

"But, surprisingly, not hard to love-because that's what I have to call the feeling it evokes, this strange combination of fear and awe I'm talking about, even in someone like me."

This is another description that Mitchell gives of Sam Dent. He believes that it is a hard place to live in but it's a good place to love in. Since it's a town people get along better and love is much better to find. Unlike a city that's full of lies.

Narrative Viewpoint

"I'm exaggerating, of course, but only slightly, because that is how you feel when you cruise down these roads in your toasty Mercedes and peer out at the patched-together houses with flapping plastic over the windows."

Mitchell believes that the town of Sam Dent isn't that rich. The people that are rich stay inside and the poor people are left outside. He thinks that driving in his Mercedes makes him feel like he is a rich man driving around a not so rich town.

Character

"This rather attractive tall doe-eyed woman in a reindeer sweater and baggy jeans was checking me in, Risa Walker, who I did not know at the time was one of those parents who had lost a child in the so-called accident."

This is Mitchell's description of Risa Walker. She and her husband own a Motel. He believes that she is attractive but probably not too wealthy because of the way her motel is running. Not a lot of people check in at her Motel.

Character

"I could also strip and hang the hide of the sonofabitch responsible for the loss of their son-which just might save the life of some other boy riding o school in some other small American town."

This is what Mitchell was saying to the Walker's. He sounds very persuasive but who knows if he really is a good lawyer. What he is saying to the Walker's might just convince them to participate in his lawsuit.

Narrative Viewpoint

"A shrink would probably tell me it's because I myself have lost a child and now identify with chumps like Risa and Wendell Walker and that poor sap Billy Ansel, and Wanda and Hartley Otto."

Mitchell wonders why he is helping out in a case like this. He said maybe it's because he has lost a child like the other people in this town. But, he believes that that is not the reason why he decided to participate in a case like this.

Narrative Viewpoint

"It's like all the children of America are dead to us. Just look at them, for God's sake violent on the streets, comatose in the malls, narcotized in front of the TV."

This quotation shows what Mitchell thinks of the American kids these days. It is partly true depends on which part of America he is talking about. I believe that life would be easier for everyone if children these days weren't so violent and disrespectful.

Character

".-I've done everything the loving father of a whacked-out drug-addicted child is supposed to do."

Mitchell's daughter Zoe is a druggy and he barely talks to her. The only time he does talk to her is when she asks him for money. His life is pretty complicated. His wife died and his daughter may die any day.

Character

"It's like I'm in the position of having to buy her clean needles to protect her against AIDS."

Mitchell feels weird because he gives her money for drugs. Mitchell only does this because it is better than letting his daughter become a prostitute and get AIDS. I believe he is doing a pretty good job considering his wife died and he has no one to help him out.

Narrative Viewpoint / Conflict

"And there was the girl Nichole Burnell, who survived the wreck; she was going to be the linchpin of the case, an all-American teenaged beauty queen whose life was ruined by her injuries and by the trauma of having survived such an ordeal."

Mitchell describes Nichole as a very rich and popular type of girl. Her dreams are probably all ruined now because of her injuries. This might cause conflict between her and who ever made the accident happen. She will never have a normal teenage life again.

Narrative Viewpoint / Conflict

"I followed into the small room, and we three sat and talked for several hours, and all the while they watched the soundless television, never once looking at me or each other."

This was probably a very awkward time for Mitchell. Not only did it feel like he was talking to the wall, but he had to deal with watching a couple not glance at each other ones or anything. There must be drama between Risa and Wendell.

Narrative Viewpoint / Character

"Kyle's a drunk, a belligerent drunk," Wendell said. "Nobody likes him. He's Terrible."

This shows that Wendell likes to get his opinion out very strongly. He is not scared to say something about anybody. Sometimes confidence is good but not always. There is a line between respect and being mean.

Conflict

"It was Wendell who mentioned Billy Ansel. Risa kept silent, and I figured he was the guy she was having her affair with."

Mitchell came to the conclusion that Risa is having an affair with Billy Ansel. This was an awkward position for him because he knew her deep secret, it was so obvious but her husband never got any of the hints.

Character

".whose daughter Nichole was in the eight grade, president of the class, queen of last fall's Harvest Festival Ball."

This is the description Risa gives Mitchell of Nichole. Nichole seems like a very popular girl and it's sad to know that she had to experience such a tragic event.

Character

"His gaunt face was prematurely lined, and he had dark circles under intelligent blue eyes and clearly had not slept much, if at all, in the last two days."

This is Mitchell's first thought of Hartley Otto. Obviously it's understandable why he wouldn't have been sleeping. Hopefully Hartley will get better because sleep is very important for one's health.

Character

"I wanted a mean lean team, a troop of vengeful parents willing to go the route with me and not come home without some serious trophies on our spears."

Mitchell wants a good team to figure out what really caused the accident. It is a very serious thing to figure out. If Mitchell finds out what cause the accident to happen, many people will think of him as a hero in the town of Sam Dent.

Narrative Viewpoint

".she looked as though she was terrific on the dance floor and bossy in bed."

This is what Mitchell said about Wanda. This shows that even though Mitchell is an intelligent man he still has a part of him that is bad and naughty.

Character

"That's why I'm here, Mrs.Otto to give your anger a voice, to be a weapon for you."

Mitchell is trying to pursue Mrs. Otto into letting Mitchell be her lawyer. Mrs. Otto has a lot of anger in her and it needs to come out. Mitchell believes that he can give her anger a voice. A voice that everyone will hear. This shows that Mitchell is very persuasive.

Character

"I want that person to go to prison for the rest of his life," she declared. "I want him to die there. I don't want his money."

As you can see, Mrs. Otto has a lot of anger in her and wants the person who made this accident happen to die. It is not a good thing to say, but when someone experiences what she is experiencing now they would be saying the same thing. This shows that Mrs. Otto is an angry woman.

Character / Conflict

"Yes. Certainly. For now, though you should refuse all interviews. Say nothing to the press, nothing to any other lawyers. Refer everybody to me."

It seems like Mitchell go the Otto's interested in what he had to say. Mitchell tells them to refer everybody to him. This may cause conflict because the other lawyers might get mad at him and lawyers might start suing lawyers. A whole different type of conflict would arise.

Character

"For twenty-five years now, and for three different firms, even after making partner, I've been the guy who handles these disaster negligence suits."

Mitchell's mind is all worked up and ready to go at this point. His builds up his confidence by remembering that for the past 25 years he's been dealing with hard negligence suits and has solved many of them. His confidence is building.

Character/ Narrative Viewpoint

"Put me onto something like this school bus case, though, and zap! All those feelings disappear. Nothing else does it-not illicit sex, not cocaine, not driving fast late at night on the wrong lane of the highway, all of which I've tried. Nothing.

Mitchell says that nothing gets him going more than trying to figure this case out. It is good for a lawyer to be like this because it shows that he cares and wants his work to be done. Mitchell says nothing gives him a better feeling. Mitchell is the perfect lawyer for this town.

Style
(flashback)

"I grabbed her up, rushed her out to the kitchen, and splashed water on her face, shouting for Klara to call the doctor, I think she's been bitten b by an insect or something!"

Mitchell's only other memory of being so worked up was when he thought his daughter Zoe got bit by an insect. This memory came to him very randomly. This probably means that he thinks of his daughter a lot.

Style (flashback) / Character

"Use the small blade," he said, and then he explained how to perform an emergency tracheotomy, told me how to cut into my daughter's throat and windpipe without causing her to bleed to death."

This is the continuation of Mitchell's memory of Zoe. This quotation also proves that Mitchell is courageous. If he has the guts to open up his own daughters throat to save her, then he is a real hero and very courageous.

Character / Flashback

"Zoe is still that child in my lap, trusting me utterly-even though I am the man who secretly held in his hand the knife that he had decided to use to cut into her throat, and thus I am in no way the man she sees smiling down at her, singing ditties and rondelets and telling stores of owls and pussycats."

I think that Mitchell misses his daughter a lot. He thinks about her a lot and always feels guilty. He should not feel guilty because he is the one that is doing the right thing. Zoe is the one that is messed up. Mitchell has done everything he could and now it's up to her intelligence to come up with a resolution to solve her problem.

Character / Narrative Viewpoint

"After explaining to the Ottos the contingency fee agreement, which, like the Walkers, they quickly signed (once they realized it would cost them nothing up front) I returned to my car."

Mitchell probably thinks that the only reason why the Ottos signed the agreement was because they did not have to pay up front. This is only Mitchell's perspective it may not be right at all.

Narrative Viewpoint

"From my point of view, the best thing you could say about the new guardrail was that it was utterly incapable of stopping or even diverting a fast-moving bus."

Mitchell believes that even the new guardrail is not good. He will probably try to do something about it because an event like the one that just happened does not want to be repeated again in the same town.

Narrative Viewpoint / Conflict / Character

"The lawyers opposing me would simply hope to prove the opposite and go home early and type up their bills."

This quote proves that Mitchell is not like the other lawyers. He will stay in the town of Sam Dent as long as he can to figure out the case. He does not care about the money; he cares about the well-being of the people that surround him. Conflict may arise between lawyers.

Character

"Assuming that what I'd been told of him by the Walkers and the Ottos- that he had holed up in his house alone and was staying drunk- wasn't just village gossip."

This quote gives Mitchell a good idea of how Billy Ansel will be towards him. The accident has made Billy act really differently so who knows how things will go between Mitchell and Billy.

Character / Setting

"Jesus, he looked sad. Tousled dark hair, shoulders slumped, elbows planted on the table, a single glass and a half-empty bottle in front of him- the picture permanent depression."

This shows the setting and character of Billy Ansel. He is now becoming an alcoholic and needs to stop drinking and get some sleep. He will become an ever more angry man if he continues to drink and not sleep.

Setting

" I watched him walk over to the driver's side of the bus, where he stopped by the window and stood looking up at it for a long time, as if talking to someone inside."

This must have been a very awkward time for Mitchell. Seeing a drunken man talking to an empty bus. What Mitchell was probably seeing was Billy talking to his kids on the bus hoping that they would be there or answer him back.

Character

"No, you can't help me. Not unless you can raise the dead," he declared moving away from me and getting into his truck."

Billy seems like a very angry man at this point. Also, he does not want to be a part of anything Mitchell is trying to get him into. All Billy wants is his kids back. If Mitchell can't give him that, then he does not want to be a part of anything.

Narrative Viewpoint / Conflict

"You're just trying to use us. You want us to pull each other in," he announced getting it nicely wrong.

Billy thinks that all Mitchell wants is to cause more conflict between the people of Sam Dent. Even though that is not what Mitchell is trying to do, that is what Billy thinks he is trying to do. Conflict between Billy and Mitchell may occur.

Character

".which I was now attempting to aim at the State of New York, for not having installed sufficiently strong guardrails along that especially dangerous stretch of roadway, and at the town of Sam Dent, for not having drained the sandpit."

Mitchell seems like a very thoughtful and responsible man. He likes to think of the right thing to do like suing Sam Dent and the State of New York. He is doing a good job at trying to get the town into better shape.

Setting

"Money was being collected, ostensibly for the families of the victims (although the exact purpose of the money was a little vague- funeral expenses for some, medical expenses for others, I supposed), in glass jars at all the local businesses, even at the Noonmark Diner over in Keene Valley.

This shows that the town of Sam Dent is a very nice and home-like town. Everyone cares for the well being of everyone. Many people try to help out as much as they can so the town stays happy. They are not doing this because they feel sorry for the parents; they are doing it because it is the right and responsible way to act.

Conflict

"The death of her son had eliminated the one reason she was married to the boy's father."

Risa wants to divorce her husband Wendell. No one knows of this but Mitchell. He is an intelligent man and figured it out on his own. This will cause conflict between Risa, Billy, Wendell, and Mitchell. Maybe not now, but in the future.

Character / Conflict

"You mean, Daddy, am I stoned? Do I have a needle dangling from my arm? Am I nodding in a phone booth? Did I score this morning, get whacked, Daddy, and call you for money?"

This is the conflict between Mitchell and his daughter Zoe. She is calling him and he said it was like getting a call from a ghost. She only calls him sometimes and that is usually because she wants money. This means that she will probably want something.

Narrative Viewpoint

"Who was I talking to? The living or the dead? How should I behave?

Mitchell doesn't even know how to talk to his daughter anymore. He does not know if she is living or dead. Obviously she's living but it seems like she's stuck in a dark evil world and there's nothing else to call her but dead.

Narrative Viewpoint

"They would have preferred that she simply disappear from town for a while, go and stay with her son in Plattsburgh or at least hide behind the door of her house with her husband up there on Bartlett Hill."

Mitchell believes that the people of Sam Dent don't want to see Dolores there. They do not want to see her face or hear from her. They want her to disappear and to never see her again. Dolores is hated now.

Narrative Viewpoint

"To them, she was both, of course, victim and cause; just as to herself she was both."

Mitchell thinks that to the town of Sam Dent Dolores is a victim and was the cause of the accident. Although nothing has been proven yet, people still believe this. It is a matter of opinion rather than the truth right now.

Conflict

"No, but this is. They wouldn't take my blood." Long pause. "I tested HIV positive."

Things weren't looking good for Mitchell and now that he has to deal with his daughter having HIV, things will get much more complicated between his and his daughters relationship.

Conflict

"She laughed again, girlishly this time, a child who had tricked her grumpy old dad. "Money," she said. "I want money."

Once again Zoe wants money. All she ever calls her father for is to get money. He always gives it to her because he does not want her to get any diseases. Even though that did not work because now she has HIV. All his plans went down the drain.

Narrative Viewpoint

"Yes. Yes, I do believe you. I thought, maybe, I thought I could get you to take another test. With a regular doctor, in case the first one was wrong?"

Mitchell does not know whether to believe his daughter or not. She lies to him all the time and he never knows whether she is saying the truth or not. At this point, I do believe that he thinks that she is lying. All she wants is money and in any way she can get it. Even if it means lying to her father.

Character

"And because I loved her, I could not know the truth and then act accordingly. Now for the first time in all those years, I was in a position to know the truth and then to act."

"Mitchell is very happy now because before Mitchell used to take all of what Zoe had to say. If she wanted money he would give it to her and etc. For the first time in a long time, Mitchell felt as if he knew the truth and will finally be able to act and do like a responsible father.