Before the Fall

How do the background sketches of secondary figures not involved in the crash, such as Layla Mueller, or minor characters such as Darla Melody, develop the novel’s central themes? Use specific textual examples in your answer.

How do each of the paintings described in the text reinforce or challenge the novel’s themes?

Screens—televisions, computer monitors, and so on—are ubiquitous in the novel. How does the presence of screens affect the interactions among characters? Choose three scenes where the characters are interacting with screens to compare and contrast with each other.

How does Hawley use visual detail to reinforce the themes of the novel? Choose specific passages from the text to discuss.

How do the narrator’s ruminations on topics such as fate, wealth, and causality affect how the events of the plot are perceived? Analyze three specific examples.

How does Hawley foreshadow the eventual revelation of Charlie Busch’s culpability for the crash in earlier parts of the novel?

How does the depiction of Doug’s interview with Cunningham advance the overall themes, especially Media and the Cult of Celebrity?

Is the final explanation of the crash—that it was Charlie Busch’s fault, and that it was connected to his relationship with Emma—a satisfying one? Why or why not?