In some ways, the entire plot of The Knife of Never Letting Go hinges on choice. Todd is the last kid in Prentisstown—literally—but when he flees right before becoming a man, instead of following the rules of Prentisstown on autopilot like everyone else has, he finds himself facing a world of decision. Does he want to be a man by Prentisstown's standards? Or are there other ways to come of age? And as for how things are run in Prentisstown, well, as Todd encounters the wider world, he realizes there are actually lots of options there as well. It's all a matter of choice.
Questions About Choice
- What do you think about the knife being a choice, rather than just an object? Read up on it over in the "Symbols" section to help you dig deep.
- Is choice the only freedom that Todd has in a world where everyone's thoughts are shared? Why or why not? Is choice part of freedom for Viola?
- What's the difference between choices in which we know the outcome and choices in which we can't possibly? Use the text to support.
Chew on This
Todd comes of age when he realizes he has the power to make his own decisions.
Choice is limited because one person's choices always come up against those of others—so our choices are always influenced.