You might not be afraid of the big, bad wolf, but chances are that you are afraid of Finnigan. And you wouldn't be the only one—even Gabriel is scared of his alter ego. What's more? He's scared about how Finnigan makes him behave and think. And we can't say we blame him. Finnigan may be a part of him and all, but he's still one scary dude who sets fires and takes stuff from people just for the heck of it. We're shaking in our boots, too.
But Finnigan's not the only source of fear in Surrender. Throughout the novel, Gabriel realizes that he's deathly afraid of many people in his life—including his parents—and ultimately decides to get rid of them because of this fear. Gabriel just doesn't want to be scared any longer.
Questions About Fear
- Is fear ever useful for Gabriel or Finnigan? Do they use it to get their way or help themselves? Can it be a good thing?
- Who is Gabriel afraid of the most? What does this tell us about his relationships and himself?
- How do the townsfolk's fears cause problems for Finnigan and Gabriel? If people didn't rally to find the arsonist, do you think they would have as many problems in their relationship with one another?
Chew on This
Finnigan is Gabriel's response to a childhood filled with fear.
It is only when Gabriel steps into his power—the power to die—that he stops living in fear.