What is the main conflict of The Lovely Bones?

Q: Who is Susies crush in The Lovely Bones?

Ray Singh is Susies first crush, first kiss, and first love. He and Susie were just getting to know each other when she died. The love letter he slipped into her schoolbooks on the day of her death is only read by her from heaven.

Character: Susie Salmon
Dynamic and Round
Internal Conflict: Person vs. Self: Susie watches the struggles of her loved ones from heaven but she cannot help them.
External Conflict: Person vs. Person: Susie is lured by Mr. Harvey into his hideaway and is murdered.
Relationship with Others: Daughter of Abigail and Jack, Sister of Buckley and Lindsey
Text Evidence: "Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the more humble and grand. The word my grandfather uses is comfort" (325).
Analysis: As the novel concludes, Susie has become content with the impacts her murder has made on her loved ones. When she watched her family and friends from heaven, all she hoped for was comfort within their lives. Thus, now that they are happily living, she is able to watch them in comfort and is at peace with her death. This shows that Susie is caring and humble and only hopes the best for her loved ones.

Índice Show

What is the major conflict in The Lovely Bones?
What is the climax of The Lovely Bones?
What is the plot of The Lovely Bones?
Who is Susie's crush in The Lovely Bones?

Character: George Harvey
Dynamic and Round
Internal Conflict: Person vs. Self: He cannot control his need to murder people.
External Conflict: Person vs. Person: Although there is no solid evidence behind his suspicions, Susie's father has begun to suspect him for the murder.
Relationship with Others: Neighbor of the Salmons, Murderer of Susie
Text Evidence: "The first girl he hurt was by accident. He got mad and couldn't stop himself... He had regretted it, but didn't see it as something that would stay with either one of them" (292).
Analysis: Due to his anger and lack of self control, George often murders innocent women. He does not know the lengths of his actions and cannot fully acknowledge the regret within himself. However, when he murders Susie, him and her loved ones are forever followed by the terrible event.

Character: Abigail Salmon

Dynamic and Round
Internal Conflict: Person vs. Self: She has run away from her family and must now cope by herself.
External Conflict: Person vs Person: She cheats on her husband and has an affair with the detective.
Relationship with Others: Wife of Jack, Mother to Susie, Lindsey and Buckley
Text Evidence: "She shut her eyes and commanded the world to shut up--screaming the words inside skull... She was hollow and lost and abandoned up" (197).
Analysis: Abigail is unable to cope with Susie's death and cannot block the dark thoughts that swarm through her head. She drowns in her thoughts to the point where she seems to have lost all the light within her. Thus, she begins an affair with Len, the detective, in order to briefly free herself from the mixture of emotions.

Character: Lindsey Salmon

Dynamic and Round
Internal Conflict: Person vs. Self: She does not know how to deal with the sympathy she receives due to her sister's death.
External Conflict: Person vs. Person: She does not think highly of her mother due to the affair and her escape.
Relationship with Others: Sister of Susie and Buckley, Daughter of Jack and Abigail
Text Evidence: "Lindsey walked through the hallways... dodging anyone who might be near... She prepared herself at home in her bedroom. She was armed to the teeth for any onslaught of sympathy" (30).
Analysis: When Susie is murdered, Lindsey continues to isolate herself and prepare for the constant, inevitable sympathy that she will receive. As the novel continues, Susie continues to closely watch the progression of Linsey's character and the effects of her murder on her sister's life.

Character: Jack Salmon

Dynamic and Round
Internal Conflict: Person vs. Self: He becomes obsessed with finding evidence against his suspicions towards George.
External Conflict: Person vs. Society: Due to the lack of evidence, barely anyone believes his claims towards Mr. Harvey.
Relationship with Others: Husband of Abigail, Father of Susie, Lindsey and Buckley
Text Evidence: "As Len denied it, my father grew more certain... There was our father, the heart we knew held us all... the doors of his heart opening and closing with the rapidity of stops on an instrument" (134).
Analysis: Jack becomes obsessed with proving George's guilt. Although there is no evidence, his ongoing attempt for justice shows his love for Susie and his family. Thus, his determination and care keeps the Salmons together as a family after the horrible incident.

What is the major conflict in The Lovely Bones?

The conflict of the novel is between the protagonist and the forces that throw obstacles in her way. It seems that it is the conflict between the heaven where Susie lives and the life on Earth she once had. The most obvious representative of the antagonistic forces is the girl's killer, Mr. Harvey.

What is the climax of The Lovely Bones?

The climax of a plot is the major turning point that allows the protagonist to resolve the conflict. This moment occurs when Susie has her greatest wish fulfilled: she makes love with Ray Singh through the miracle of entering Ruth's body. This allows her to “grow up” and so enter the Heaven where she truly belongs.

What is the plot of The Lovely Bones?

After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) -- and her killer (Stanley Tucci). As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.The Lovely Bones / Film synopsisnull

Who is Susie's crush in The Lovely Bones?

Ray Singh is Susie's first crush, first kiss, and first love. He and Susie were just getting to know each other when she died. The love letter he slipped into her schoolbooks on the day of her death is only read by her from heaven.