The Lazarus Project Part 3

This section of reading was already discussed a lot by Mr. Kudera in class, so I found a lot of connections that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. The first part of the story has a very informative list of all the wounds Lazarus received in his death. The assistant chief then calls Jews "creatures of a different world" which is agreed upon by Miller (page 88). This once again reinforces the hate and anti-semitic views of these characters.

The story then shifts to the story of Olga, who, as discussed in class, now seems to be the protagonist of the older story. The story begins to focus on her actions and thoughts and her struggles of losing her brother Lazarus. I thought it was interesting how Lazarus "daydreamed about being a reporter for The Hebrew Voice, while Brik in the present day story is a writer and has written columns. It's just another way to connect the two characters.

The end of the section also had a puzzling scene in which Lazarus comes to the door. After my initial reading, I was unsure of whether this was a dream, flashback, or just Olga going mad. Either way it certainly illustrates the emotional torment she is experiencing.

Back in present times, Brik and Rora are journeying through Eastern Europe. I thought as they were driving and saw "a horse cart with a cage full of rabbits, the man holding the reins slouching like a refugee" that this showed the contrast between their privileged lives and those of many in Eastern Europe (page 100).

I also liked the section in which Brik talks about how in America people often disbelieve a story when they hear it, but those in Ukraine and Bosnia leave all notions of reality behind to follow the story. I think they do this for the same reason that Rambo and Miller careen dangerously around a warzone in an Audi-they are looking for release from reality. They want a way to, even if just for an instant, remove themselves from their tough lives to escape to something better.

I also find it puzzling how Miller can continue to write so venomously about the Jewish and poor community in Chicago as he is exposed more and more to them. Maybe his preconceived notions about them are just too much, but it seems like he would eventually change his views about them after being exposed to the truth so much.