After the First Death by Robert Cormier
"After the First Death" is a young adult novel by Robert Cormier that intricately weaves psychological depth with a harrowing narrative about a hijacking incident. The story unfolds as a group of sixteen children is taken hostage on a school bus by terrorists, led by a complex character named Miro, who grapples with his loyalty to a cause he barely understands. The novel explores the interplay of power and vulnerability through the perspectives of five key characters, including the bus driver Kate Forrester and Miro, alongside the chilling manipulations of the terrorist leader Artkin.
The plot delves into themes of sacrifice, duty, and the emotional struggles of its characters, culminating in tragic outcomes that highlight the harsh realities of their circumstances. Cormier's narrative is marked by a sense of bleakness, reflecting the author's broader commentary on the human experience, particularly the ways individuals can become victims of larger forces. Critics regard Cormier as a significant figure in young adult literature, known for his unsettling and often pessimistic portrayals, which resonate with readers seeking deeper reflections on moral and ethical dilemmas. "After the First Death" serves as a continuation of Cormier's exploration of the complexities of youth, authority, and the enduring specter of violence, making it a compelling yet challenging read for young adults and beyond.
After the First Death by Robert Cormier
First published: 1979
Type of work: Psychological realism
Themes: Death, politics and law, family, and emotions
Time of work: The late 1970’s
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Locale: A suspension bridge near Hallowell, Massachussetts
Principal Characters:
Benjamin Marchand , a sensitive, vulnerable teenager, who is used as a messenger by his father and Inner Delta in the attempt to rescue the childrenBrigadier General Marcus L. Marchand , Ben’s fatherMiro Shantas , a young terroristArtkin , the leader of the terrorist groupKate Forrester , the driver of the hijacked bus
The Story
In terms of structure, After the First Death is a book that defies simple attempts at classification. Two levels of plot produce a story that is intensely psychological and starkly realistic. The novel begins as a simple adventure tale. Sixteen children are headed by bus to a day camp near Hallowell, Massachussetts. The bus is hijacked by terrorists and driven to a defensible position on a long suspension bridge. At this point, the terrorists issue their demands, the gravity of which is underscored when the children are drugged and one dies from a reaction to the powerful tranquilizer. Inner Delta is then called in to rescue the children.
This is not strictly an adventure tale. Overlapping all events is a psychological drama that unfolds through the interplay of five masterfully developed characters. Miro, a young boy schooled in terrorism and guided by blind loyalty to his cause, is placed in charge of the bus and its occupants. He knows little of the reasons behind the hijacking and even less about his own background: He never knew his parents, he has only vague memories of his country, and he is unsure of his actual age. It is Miro’s job to kill the bus driver once the bus reaches the bridge, but he is shocked to discover that the driver is not the man he expected, but rather Kate Forrester, a teenage girl who happens to be driving this day. He struggles to balance his duty to control the children with uncomfortable physical and emotional feelings manifested through his interaction with Kate.
Miro’s duties are carried out under the watchful eye of Artkin, a cold-blooded killer well-versed in psychological warfare. One minute he performs a grotesque dance with the body of the dead child, and the next he appears thoughtful and caring as he gently touches and soothes the occupants of the bus. A professional, he behaves in the manner that will most help him attain his goals. His understanding of human nature sets him apart from the other terrorists, yet his inability to discover that he, too, is being manipulated leads to his own death.
Kate realizes that, because she has seen the terrorists without their masks, she will be killed. She uses her own sexuality to disarm Miro psychologically and then she attempts an escape from the bridge. The bus engine stalls, however, and she remains a prisoner of the terrorists and her own limitations and is killed by Miro.
The characters of Benjamin and General Marchand are examined in more detail after the hijacking occurs. The general summons Ben to serve as the messenger who will relay a package from Inner Delta to the terrorists. General Marchand, an expert in psychological warfare, has monitored his son’s behavior for years. While briefing his son for the mission, he purposely feeds false information to Ben concerning the time of the scheduled attack upon the bridge. The general knows that his son will fold under the pressure of interrogation and supply the terrorists with the false information that will lead to their destruction. In essence, he sacrifices his son for what he believes is his patriotic duty. During the surprise attack, Ben is shot by Artkin. Later, unable to come to terms with actions he perceives as cowardly, Ben kills himself. The attack is successful and most of the children are saved, but all main characters are destroyed, either physically or emotionally.
Context
The critics tend to agree that Robert Cormier is one of the better writers of young adult fiction of the post-Pigman era. Many also agree that Cormier’s work is unsettling and pessimistic. The characters in his novels are generally victims: victims of institutional control, victims of their own physical and emotional limitations, or victims of political corruption. Very little hope exists in any of his works. When hope does appear, as it does in After the First Death when Kate Forrester attempts to drive the bus from the bridge, it is quickly cut away, as is Kate’s own life.
After the First Death was Cormier’s third novel for young adults, following the critically acclaimed The Chocolate War (1974) and I Am the Cheese (1977). After the First Death is not a radical departure from Cormier’s previous writing. Rather, it simply continues and enriches the themes and structures developed in his earlier novels. In The Chocolate War, for example, the themes of betrayal and physical cruelty are developed as Jerry Renault refuses to sell chocolates as part of a fundraiser for his school. He is beaten both physically and psychologically, until he understands that it is futile to stand alone against a powerful system. In I Am the Cheese, the central issue is the destruction of the individual, as represented by the character of Adam Farmer, by the workings of a corrupt political system. It is clear as the novel comes to a close that Adam will be killed or reprogrammed by this system, just as Kate is killed by Miro at the conclusion of After the First Death.
What sets After the First Death above his previous novels is the attention to point of view. The story unfolds through five points of view: those of Ben, Miro, Artkin, Kate, and General Marchand. All views are quite unique, and all focus upon one fact: The individual is doomed by powers above and beyond the reach of mainstream society. Robert Cormier’s vision is a fatal 8one, tempered by the knowledge that it is not enough to know that evil exists, but that one must learn how to coexist with it.
Bibliography
Campbell, Patricia J. Presenting Robert Cormier. Boston: Twayne, 1985.
Coats, Karen. “Abjection and Adolescent Fiction.” JPCS: Journal for the Psychoanalysis of Culture & Society 5 (Fall, 2000): 290-300.
Gallo, Donald R. “Reality and Responsibility: The Continuing Controversy over Robert Cormier’s Books for Young Adults.” In The VOYA Reader. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1990.
Hyde, Margaret O. Robert Cormier. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2005.
Ishandert, Sylvia Patterson. “Readers, Realism, and Robert Cormier.” Children’s Literature 15 (1987): 7-18.
Karolides, Nicholas J., ed. Censored Books, II: Critical Viewpoints, 1985-2000. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow, 2002.
Keeley, Jennifer. Understanding “I Am the Cheese.” San Diego: Lucent, 2001.
Myers, Mitzi. “’No Safe Place to Run To’: An Interview with Robert Cormier.” The Lion and the Unicorn: A Critical Journal of Children’s Literature 24 (September, 2000): 445-464.
Tarr, C. Anita. “The Absence of Moral Agency in Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War.” Children’s Literature 30 (2002): 96-124.
Veglahn, Nancy. “The Bland Face of Evil in the Novels of Robert Cormier.” The Lion and the Unicorn: A Critical Journal of Children’s Literature 2 (June 12, 1988): 12-18.