Tomorrow When the War Began

...

Homer was once the class clown. A rebel who didn’t like authority. It’s surprising then, that he become a leader in the group. He uses his humor as a weapon, to get rid of bad moods and awkward, discouraging moments. But he can also plan, and is quick to action. “It was midafternoon before we had energy to talk tactics. It was obvious that Homer had spent a good bit of time thinking about the bridge, because he went straight to the point. "Let's blow it up," he said, his eyes shining.” This is quite obviously foreshadowing, as wells as the climax of the book, what the book has been leading up to. While Homer can make jokes, and be silly, he is a great leader, and comes up with most of the plans that help the group avoid capture. This shows me that in real life, even the most unexpected person can surprise you, and when put under stress, some people crack, but others bunch up, and take the strain and become all the more stronger for it.

While Homer is thinking about bridges, Ellie is the one fleshing out the plans, and making sure they don’t get killed in the process. Ellie is also the narrator, and is incredibly detailed and honest about their story. But even though she puts on a tough facade, she is deeply troubled by her actions, and reflects upon the morality of war. “Had I killed out of love of my friends, as part of a noble crusade to rescue friends and family and keep our land free? Or had I killed because I valued my life above that of others? Would it be OK for me to kill a dozen others to keep myself alive? A hundred? A thousand? At what point did I condemn myself to Hell, if I hadn’t already done so? The Bible just said ‘Thou shalt not kill’, then told hundreds of stories of people killing each other and becoming heroes, like David with Goliath. That didn’t help me much.” The allusion to the Bible illustrates the troubles she faces. It is also a paradox, which reinforces the theme of the morality of war.

Over the span of this novel, the characters have grown and matured, and the themes have grown more prominent. It has also allowed me to realise, just how fragile our lives our, and how our safety is perceived as a constant, but in reality, it can all be taken away in a heartbeat.