"The Lazarus Project" part 3 blog

Throughout "The Lazarus Project" by Aleksandar Hemon, there were many connections being made. This section starts off with an autopsy being performed and an informative list of all the wounds Lazarus received during his death. There are several descriptions made to what the man looked like all leading to him being Jewish. The assistant chief then goes on to say, "They are creatures of a different world"(page 88). He is referring to all Jews. After saying this remark, William P. Miller agrees with him. By the assistant chief and Miller making this comment they are reinforcing their hate and views on these characters.

The story then moves on to discuss the story of Olga. The story starts off by focusing on her thoughts and how she deals with the lose of her brother, Lazarus. Olga seems to write her mother frequently to show her emotions and struggles with her recent loss. She soon runs to the outhouse and finds the dictionary Lazarus used to read while being in there. Olga says, "The book is warm, as though Lazarus has just held it, his life still radiating out of it."(page 91) From this we can see how she still wants to be connected to her brother. Olga is struggling with her loss and needs to have something that her brother held dear to him. Since the dictionary is something her brother enjoyed so much she feels as if he is still a part of it. Soon after Olga says, "My little brother. All the lives he could have lived."(page 91) Olga is remembering all the times they had together and how she was such a huge part of his life. She was able to help him in school and knew that one day he would do great things with his life.

At the end of the section I found it shocking when Lazarus showed up at the door. When I first read this part I though Olga was having a dream and just wishing her brother was really there or that she was to the point where she could not except her brother really being gone. This part shows the emotional torment Olga is having to experience. She is realizing how hard it is going to be to live without her brother, who was so close to her.

When the story shifts back to the present we learn that Brik and Rora are taking a journey through Eastern Europe. While they were driving they passed, "a horse cart with a cage full of rabbits, the man holding the reins slouching like a refugee."(page 100). This shows how different certain areas can be. Even though we all live in a well developed area not all people are as fortunate as us. I also found it interesting when Brik is talking about Americans not believing stories when they hear them. However, those in other countries like Bosnia do not look at the reality of the story but enjoy the story while it is being told. People in these places probably try to believe the stories to escape how reality really is. They want to be free even if it is only for a few moments. These people want to forget about their hard days of work and know that somewhere out there times are not as hard.

Miller soon goes on to talk about the Jewish people in an impolite way. Once he is around them longer he tends to say more and more hateful things and look down upon them. All of his outlooks on these people and those in the poor communities is overwhelming. I would think once he has been around these people long enough he would change his out looks on them. Over all, I have found this reading very interesting so far and will enjoy seeing what happens in the later parts of the story.