Why was Garraty in the Long Walk?

[thebarbster24]

After two readings of the book I am still wondering about this. Sure, most of the boys must have had a secret death wish since they must have been aware of the odds of taking part in the Wak and live to tell the tale. But most of the major characters more or less state their reasons and motivations for taking part in the Walk (like McVries and his girlfriend, Stebbins and his father, Scramm wanting money for his soon-to-be larger family etc.) but I'm not sure why Garraty was in it. Several incidents are mentioned from his life before the Walk but every time someone asks him directly, he never answers, not to the other Walkers and not to Jan. So, why do you think he was there?

[Pucker]

I always felt like Garaty represented the general air of hopelessness that permeates the society in which he lives. He doesn't really have an options, and the inference seems to be that a bullet in the head is as good as anything else he's likely to get. Many of his compatriots have more specific reasons that make sense to them, but as the de facto protagonist, Garaty strikes me as a symbol of the general malaise with which these kids grow up. He probably doesn't even know why himself.

[GNTLGNT]

The Kid has summed it up nicely-"Entropy, thy name is Garraty"...

[Phantomking]

Because he wanted to die, why else?

(to paraphrase McVries)

[bobledrew]

Ya gotta remember, Garraty, like the rest of the Walkers, was a teenager. I know I did lots of things without thinking 'em through when I was that age. I think there was likely a constellation of thoughts in his head whirling around - the prize, the idea of doing something to make his disappeared dad proud, the "romance" of walking yourself to death, the simple ballsiness of saying that you can survive where 99 other walkers will die...

[fljoe0]

Also, Garraty lived in a police state where the government exercises social control over everyone. The long walk is a chance to do something as an individual and to stand out.

I just finished this the other day. For some reason, I had never read the early Bachman books. The Long Walk is an amazing novel. The ability of SK to keep up the suspense and tension during the course of this walk is very impressive.

[krs72]

" The Long Walk " is a great S.K. story and is my fav. Bachman Book . I think Garraty in the book rep. the millions of teenagers who don't know w.t.f. they want to do . " The Long Walk " and " The Running Man " are both sort of reality game shows, what kid with nothin' to lose wouldn't want to be apart of that ? I remember when I was a teen I didn't think I would see 30, due to the envior. I grew up in .

[Mattman1]

I'm only 15 (if you care to believe me) and let me tell you, most people my age see something along those lines as a challenge. and we generally don't think things through very often. choose one I guess

[garygak]

I think that suconsciously all fifteen years olds think they are invinsible.

[fljoe0]

I think that suconsciously all fifteen years olds think they are invinsible.

It's not even subconscious, just ask a 15 year old, he will tell you he is invincible