In The World According to Garp, the only thing Garp has to fear is Garp himself. Although T.S. Garp is a wild young boy himself, he grows up to be the most paranoid parent in the world. It doesn't help matters that his mother, Jenny Fields, is a famous feminist who receives death threats and angry letters on a daily basis. Garp is left in the middle of this madness trying desperately to protect the people he loves. But you know what he learns? Sometimes it's your fear that poses the biggest threat after all.
Questions About Fear
- What does Garp fear most? How can you tell? Why this specific fear?
- How do Garp's fears play into his fiction? How about his life decisions?
- Are Garp and Helen's fears justified? Why or why not?
- How does Garp's paranoia affect his kids? Give examples to support, please.