The Novel That Looks Death in the Eye
Emma Cline’s Switzy might not make readers happy, but it could strike them with moments of sublime clarity.
TL;DR
- Terror-management theory explains how people deal with the fear of death through escapism or belief systems promising immortality.
- Emma Cline's novel "Switzy" confronts death directly, unlike the coping mechanisms described by terror-management theory.
- The novel centers on David Hastings, a former executive diagnosed with Alzheimer's, who chooses to end his life through euthanasia in Switzerland.
- David is accompanied by his caretaker, Cody, who manages daily life and buffers him from the complexities of his cognitive decline.
- The narrative style is described as wandering and dreamlike, reflecting David's experience of memory loss and disorientation.
- David is aware of his failing memory and experiences gaps, finding even pleasant moments feel like work.