We tried really hard to find a nice way to say this, but there just isn't one, so here it goes: A lot of people die in Jellicoe Road. So many people die, in fact, that it makes you question just how much grief these poor characters can handle. As a result, it makes sense that they would begin asking serious questions about death and their own mortality. The characters think about who would be affected by their deaths, search for answers about lost loved ones, and try to hide from mortality rather than face it directly. All this discussion of death, though, ultimately gives more meaning to their lives and their relationships with each other. Phew.
Questions About Mortality
- What's up with Jessa's creepy serial killer scrapbook? Why is she doing this anyway?
- How does seeing her father's picture cause Taylor to think differently about death?
- How does each major character respond to death? What do their reactions reveal about their characters?
- What does Tate's death at the end of the book ultimately teach us about mortality?
Chew on This
Fitz and Jude's distance from the car crash helps them keep the survivors from falling into despair.
Despite Tate's death, the book ultimately ends on a redemptive note that celebrates and embraces life.