Most Important Lessons in Life
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The Hotel New Hampshire, written by John Irving, is an enticing tale of a family's adventures and misadventures at the hands of their anti-realist father. The World According to Garp, another unique novel written by John Irving, also tells of a family's downwards spiral towards tragedy and sorrow. Throughout both books John Irving emphasizes the importance of a strong family unit in situations of crisis or tragedy. Within the two families, all through both books there are minor and major set backs that prevent the family members from achieving their goals, maintaining their happiness and living peacefully within their society. However, the family members of both households, in each novel always stay strong, confident and united for each-other's sakes.
In The World According To Garp, Helen's infidelities and Garp's hastiness lead to a disastrous car accident, in which their youngest son, Walt, dies and Duncan, the older son, loses his right eye. In the aftermath of the accident, both Helen and Garp are disappointed with their own actions as they begin to rebuild their relationship for the sake of their son, Duncan and the memory of their beloved son, Walt. Living in Garp's mother's mansion while getting over their miscellaneous injuries, Garp and Helen decide that the only way that they can be whole again was to forgive each-other and become a family again. Although Garp has his mouth wired shut due to the accident, he communicates with Helen through note-writing. "I don't blame you, he wrote, I don't blame me, either, only in this way we can be whole again...