I'll Stay
Page 37
7. Ben tells Clare that although we’d like to believe we’d be heroes in a crisis, the urge to “save oneself” is stronger. What does he mean by this? Do you agree? What would you have done had you been in Clare’s position in the house in Florida? Would you have left Lee?
8. Clare, Ducky, and Sarah are all complicit in, and feel responsible for, what happened to Lee. Do you understand their actions, feelings, and reactions? How are they similar to, and different from, each other? How does that night affect each of them in the years to come?
9. The window in the Florida house provides a means of escape for Clare. Afterward, windows figure symbolically throughout the novel. How?
10. From an early age, Clare identifies with Phoebe, her mom’s fictional character in her famous novel, Listen, Before You Go. How does this identification help and hinder her development? How are others complicit in this identification? And how does Clare’s eventual discovery of Phoebe’s origins help in her friendship with Lee?
11. Clare sees herself as a caretaker in many of her relationships. Whom does she take care of? And why? Does she view this as a strength or a weakness? By the end of the novel, how does she understand this part of herself?
12. During their trip to Florida in the beginning of the novel, Clare, Lee, Ducky, and Sarah ignore warning signs that their choices may lead to trouble. Why do they do this? Does their behavior seem reckless or typical for their age? Or both? Do you remember thinking you were invincible at that age?