Larry Flashcards
This is the first time Larry is mentioned. We immediately know he has done something bad, but do not know what
“the man I am going to kill”
[not direct mention of Larry] The place he is mainly featured in has sense of impending doom due to name + backstory
“the Wreck Centre”
Effortless glamour, associated with Hollywood. “Dazzling” implicates being so bright other things are obscured from vision (i.e. using his glamour to hide darker aspect of himself)
“a lock of blond hair tumbling over his forehead, a smile that revealed dazzling movie-star teeth”
Almost God-like
“his feet barely touching the floor”
Seemingly lovely man, encouraging and nice towards children. But reader knows something darker happens because Francis wants to kill him
“urging everyone to participate”
“Larry LaSalle didn’t embarrass me by calling me to the front row”
Element of fear from the very start
“No one dared to ask him”
Implies he is pure and moral. Becomes ironic later.
“the patron saint of the Wreck Centre”
Superlatives show others clearly greatly respect him
“the best of the best”
Connects Larry to Francis through their shared achievement + Attitudes to having won the Silver Star
“Lt. LaSalle Earns Silver Star”
“He shrugs, sagging in the chair”
Giving Francis special encouragement/praise to help build his confidence
“You’re going to be a champion”
“Beautiful” (hyperbolic + encouraging)
Effect of Larry LaSalle’s charm
“I stood spellbound by his words”
Specific words used to hint at something predatory about him
“Just as he had LURED awkward girls”
“Larry LaSalle MANIPULATED a spotlight”
Strong sexual undertones + shows how he is in control when with Nicole (i.e. ALLOW her to do something)
“their lips only an inch or so from a kiss, before he allowed her to slip down against his body”
“as she lay at his feet” (high ground holds power)
Larry teaches Francis a defensive game rather than offensive - could link to him teaching him subconsciously not to take action against things that seem weird, instead just stand back and watch
“playing the game Larry LaSalle had taught me, being patient, remaining cool and composed”
In the game he skillfully manipulates the situation to his wishes - it is all deception (which he is shown to be good at)
“guiding the game with such skill”
“He cleverly missed”
“seemingly impossible shots”
Appearance and reality. Larry is talented at making something appear one way, but actually be the exact opposite situation.
“Two games were being played at the same time, the sharp, take-no-prisoners game the hushed audience was observing and the subtle tender game in which Larry LaSalle was letting me win”
Even when at war he is associated with fame and glamour
“to see the town’s first big war hero on the silver screen”
How war has changed things about him, but kept some things the same. Now associated with danger, possibly foreshadowing to later events following his homecoming.
“that touch of Fred Astaire still in his walk”
“His slenderness was knife-like now, lethal, his features sharper”
Manipulative towards the kids to gain their trust
“I want to be with the Wreck Centre gang”
“he had made us feel special, singling us out”
Link to Pied Piper, quite a sinister story in reality. Piper controls children and unknowingly lures them to their doom. By comparing Larry to this, it implies this is what he is doing with the Wreck Centre kids too
“Larry LaSalle had been a bright Pied Piper for the children”
“Larry LaSalle headed the line” (a bit like Pied Piper- leading children)
Line of manipulation/clear hierachy established by Larry with him at the front. Proximity to Nicole is innappropriate.
“Larry LaSalle headed the line, Nicole was next with her hands on his hips and mine on hers”
Tells Francis what to think and feel and it works. Immense power over him. Is able to speak things into existence.
“You look tired… it’s been a long day”
“‘He’s tired,’ Larry said. ‘He wants to go home’”
“We always did what Larry LaSalle told us to do”
Associated with GREEN
“green uniform”
“The green house”
“pea soup”
“green pot”
Effects of war on him by end (maybe also karma???)
“He is pale, eyes sunk into the sockets”
