The Goldfinch Essay Questions

What role does the painting The Goldfinch play throughout the story?

The Goldfinch functions as a symbol of the pain and guilt that Theo carries with him after his mother's death. Theo's theft of the painting drives most of the plot, as he agonizes over how to hide the painting, and faces years of anxiety and depression because of it, spiraling into addiction and committing murder only to end up losing the painting. The painting also functions as an allegory for his trauma, as the memories of his mother's death and the bombing of the Metropolitan Museum manifest in the painting. He is constantly trying to conceal his pain, much like he is concealing the painting, but he is stuck with this remnant of the past, as it cannot easily be returned or sold.

How does the novel employ foreshadowing?

The novel begins in medias res, or in the middle of action, as Theo narrates the events of his past from a melancholy perspective. The novel begins by telling the reader that Theo's mother has died and that this death has led to several unfortunate events. This foreshadowing engages the reader and introduces the guilt that Theo feels and the moody atmosphere throughout much of the novel.

Is Boris a protagonist, an antagonist or neither? Is he a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Cite textual evidence in support of your view.

Any of these positions can be argued. Throughout the novel, Boris betrays Theo many times and often transgresses social norms. In high school, Boris encourages Theo to take and deal drugs, and supports debauchery in general. He beats his girlfriend and marries out of obligation. Despite this, the narrator, Theo, works to make Boris a sympathetic character by detailing his abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father and the neglect that encouraged his wayward behavior. Later in the novel, Boris admits that he stole The Goldfinch, and convinces Theo to go to Amsterdam with him, ultimately returning the painting to the authorities and splitting the reward money with Theo. Ultimately, Boris is a character that is neither an antagonist or a protagonist as he is capable of both good and bad behavior.

Discuss the role of family in the novel.

Several of the characters in the novel struggle with their families. Though Theo's mother is a loving and caring parent, her death leads Theo to live with his father, an alcoholic who tries to steal from him. Theo's friends have similar experiences: Pippa's mother dies, and Boris's father is an alcoholic. The Barbours also face significant parental problems: Mr. Barbour suffers from bipolar disorder, which leads to his occasionally unpredictable behavior. Despite these difficult experiences, family members also show kindness in the novel, as Hobie agrees to take in Pippa until her aunt takes her, Welty takes in his half-sister Julie, and Mrs. Barbour takes a significantly more active role in her children's lives after Andy and Mr. Barbour die. These experiences show the difficulty of family life and suggest that there is still a chance to create a supporting and loving, if imperfect, family.

Allusions play a large role throughout the novel. Discuss the significance of at least one of these allusions and cite multiple examples from the text.

One significant allusion in the novel is Dostoyevsky's novel The Idiot. In high school, Boris spends six months reading the book, and at the end of the novel, The Idiot returns as Boris attempts to emulate its main character, Prince Myshkin, by choosing to follow the morally correct path and return the painting. But the parallel is imperfect, as Prince Myshkin is unalterably good, while Boris often acts in an amoral or unjust way. This allusion helps to underscore the difficulty of Boris's decision to return the painting, as his actions yield a significant monetary award and endanger Theo.