How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Some people argued that everybody should have the right to die decently. To make decisions about their own death. We didn't ask to be born, they said, but at least we should have some say in our own death. Especially when we can't, you know—function properly any more … It's a question of personal freedom." (9.80)
We're asked to think about some pretty dark topics, like euthanasia. For Geertrui, it's better to die than live with such pain, but not everyone agrees with her. (We're lookin' at you, Tessel.) Ultimately, we're asked to decide what we think about assisted death. Over to you, Shmoopsters.
Quote #5
He had never really liked being a child, had always wanted to be grown up, independent, responsible for himself. Had always wanted to be as free as he could be to live life as he wanted to live it. Even though, he had to admit, he did not yet know exactly how he wanted to live. (11.58)
Well isn't that just perfect—Jacob wants to live, but he's not sure how. He wants to be an adult, but he doesn't think he is yet. Part of Jacob's journey is sorting these big, million-dollar questions out for himself. The answers he comes up with might not be the same for you, but hey, we've all got to figure them out for ourselves.
Quote #6
"Yes, even in your mouse moods you only play with the idea of not being." She cleared her throat again. "Biology, you see. It's because of biology that we want to live and not to die. And it is because of biology that we come to a time when we want to die and not to live." (12.55)
Geertrui thinks it's all just a matter of biology at the end of the day. We all want to keep on living, because that's what our bodies do, and that's how we're made. We wonder if there's more to it than that for Jacob though. He wants to keep on living to experience Anne Frank's diary and this new city full of canals.