A lot of people would probably find living the way Ty does in Stolen to be pretty much impossible. Forget about grocery stores, text messaging, entertainment, and the usual modern conveniences—you're hunting for your food and looking at the stars instead of watching sitcoms, and Ty would probably laugh in your face if you asked why you couldn't get a signal on your smartphone.
But, in a way, that's what makes his character so fascinating: He has no interest whatsoever in living in a modern society. Not only that, but there's major tension between him and Gemma, who's clearly a city girl. Regardless, Ty has some things he wants to teach her about the value of nature and its meaning in a world overrun with technology.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- What accounts for Ty's close bond with the wilderness? Why is he more at home there than in a more conventional, populated area? Be specific and give evidence from the text.
- While Ty goes about it in a way that's just plain illegal, what does he hope to reveal to Gemma about the land? Is he successful?
- How does Ty use analogies about life in the desert to reveal its beauty to Gemma?
- How do you think Gemma will be different as a result of her encounter with Australia's wilderness? How will it affect her worldview for the rest of her life?
Chew on This
Christopher portrays the wilderness not as a place of death but as a place of rebirth.
Ty's connection with the natural wilderness heightens the sacrifice he makes by going with Gemma in the plane.