I am very disappointed in the ending of this book. Reading through the comments I noticed that no one has questioned a mental breakdown as a possibility for Kya and murdering Chase Andrews. She's accused of murdering Chase Andrews (Harris. Tate will protect Kya and Chase knew Kya was assaulted after all. Kya is described to have dark tan skin (which makes sense because shes outside all day), dark brown eyes, full lips and black hair. Why seems he would have done it himself. This paper will investigate how Where the Crawdads Sing subtly includes ecological concerns. That it was Jumpin and Tate that planned and killed Chase. She probably would have not killed a critter, except for food, but killing a human being did not seem a problem. Was this to make us think Tate killed Chase? When I was a young girl growing up in south Georgia, my mother encouraged my girlfriends and mewhether we were exploring on foot or riding our horsesto venture as far into the oak forests as we could go. I think he just wasnt man enough to go against everyone elses expectations of him and stand up for her and be with her. The assault happens on August 30th and a month later hes dead. devout fans who've bought more than 1.5. Produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine, and Sony, with a worldwide release on July 15, the anticipated film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing is finally here! Its just odd with decades of being together and how much they loved each other that she never told him/he didnt know? That bothered me too. Does the book describe how Tate feels about Kya being the murderer after all? The way the content is organized. However, seems to me when Tate discovers the poetry under the floorboards his astonishment isnt that Kya is the poet but that she knew Tates secret, hes was the murderer. Her plan called for Tate to be a suspect also, likely even to be the foremost suspect. Whereas people used to make unfair assumptions about her because of her socioeconomic class, now they seem to have a certain kind of respect for her. part of me thinks it might be symbolic of her mother in some way but im not sure. It has sold over two million copies and has been translated into 37 languages. She set it up for a night time meeting. I was sure the wife murdered him. I think that Kya would have no idea there would be fibers from the hat on Chases clothing. Good question. Although the hotel clerk testifying she wasnt sure how to use a phone could indicate that she did. She thought the insects knew how to deal with their mates. She did what she needed to do to survive. omg this is such a good point, I didnt think of it before Ive updated the post to reflect your comment, Where does the white canoe fit in the plot. Kya initially declines, but Tate tosses it into her boat. The gist of it is that, depending on factors such as her method of travel or the water conditions, it could have been possible. Drop a comment below and Ill try to answer if I can! But now I cant recall why and the summary doesnt explain it. They never show the red hat in court, so Tate had no way of knowing it was his own hat. Back in the day they used to have these things called phone books where you could find peoples phone numbers. Im pretty certain he did not win the lottery, go to college, and move to New York. She was always by herself, her father rarely talked and she could not read. Tate reads the poem again, his heart hammering against his chest. In fact, most of them agree that they should have been kinder to her long before the trial, thereby showing her empathy and giving her the benefit of the doubt even if some citizens still wonder how Chase died. Its exemplary! Another part of the poem reads, 'The last step, a trap./ A psychologist once told me that when an evil family member dies, people in the family rarely if ever mention that persons name ever again. (The last step, a trap. She looks shocked and amazed. I realize were led to believe that Kya killled Chase. In Where the Crawdads Sing, poetry is an important part of Kya's life. She just wasnt worldly enough for considering disguising herself differently twice, etc. Female insects, Kya thought, know how to deal with their lovers. [lovers is plural !] Her past work (as a wildlife scientist in Africa), as well as the title of this novel, are a reflection of this. Required fields are marked *. I can get on board with the age of 5 being a little far fetched; however, everything else is not so hard to believe for me, plus her father was around for a few years in the beginning. In Chapter 17, when Tate and Kya are looking for a place to hang out, Tate suggests that they go somewhere where the crawdads sing. He explains to Kya that it means far in the bush where critters are wild, still behaving like critters. In other words, hes suggesting they go off somewhere far from other people, deep into nature. Folks hear n see almost everything. Later, there are red fibers found on Chases jacket after he is dead. She saw that she did not want to, nor did she deserve to, live in fear because a predator decided to target her. When she realized that Chase had become a threat to her wellbeing, then, she lured him into a trap, sending him falling through the hatch in the fire tower. Shed say, Go way out yonder where the crawdads sing. And we did.. At that point, it becomes a symbol of Kya taking herself back or taking back the power in their relationship (or her dignity or something else) which could be the reason she would want to keep this symbol of her reclaiming something she feels he took from her. Kya is not black or Native American. Overall I truly enjoyed the entire story, even though the author puts a lot of detail into the descriptions of nature, and Kyas work, but it is also cool because it gives you the story from a scientists point of view (which our Author happens to be). She also kills Chase because she says I will not live in fear. Amen sister. I feel ya. And why would she leave the hat out in the open when she was so careful to cover her tracks in every other way? Reflecting back to the necklace I remember this was a very special shell but couldnt remember the scenario when Kya gave it it Chase. Ie. Id like to believe Kaya was innocent. Kya knew judgment had no place here. Kya didnt want to call him and tell him. She could have been watching somewhere and ran over after confirming he was dead.. But to kill someone. (!) What happen to Chases wife? He could have left Chase a not from Kya asking him to meet her. She went to the white school where she saw the other white girls at lunch. He was not arrested. It is the law of nature ( which she is a student of) to kill to survive. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I think the question of why Kya chooses to kill Chase (and whether it was justified) is something thats up for book clubs to debate. That seems to indicate she may have asked him how to use it in order to contact Chase. At trial, expert evidence is given that the fibers could have been transferred at any time and just remained stuck on there for years (even if washed), so they arent definitive proof that Kya was with Chase the night he died. Also, one side of my family lived in the marshes of Louisiana. The female firefly that Kya watches eat a potential mate represents the same kind of power that she herself taps into when she uses her own sex appeal to lure Chase into a death trap. I saw someone comment about the possibility of a mental breakdown and split personalities. Her character was a survivor. Money used to go a lot further than it does today, and her first check alone was for $5,000. Even more awful movie. Where they her children or her sibling(s) and their children? Does Kya ever show remorse? When Kya met Chase she was surprised by how much she wanted to be with him. How did Chase die in Where the Crawdads Sing. He should have been an obvious suspect in the case as he had been seen by several witnesses ooo thanks for letting me know, Ill take a look to see whats up! After she was acquitted and returns to the cabin, she was relieved she was angry. Where the Crawdads Sing is set in the fictional coastal fishing town of Barkley Cove in eastern North Carolina. Basically, at the end of the book, we find out that Kya has been writing and publishing poems under a pen name. Me too. Also, both of them were experts in minutiae so why did they he she bother taking the necklace and not hiding the hat when they he she cleaned up everything else? I know thats superficial to the performance but still- a girl, then woman who spends time in the outdoors would have a tan! I was always intrigued by the reasons why Chase chose to wear the shell necklace gifted by Kya all the time. I dont know if the book really got into why Kya wasnt put on the stand, but generally if a lawyer feels like someone is more likely to incriminate themselves or come off badly, then they wont testify. I mean how else did she know how to get away with it. And we fell in love with Kya. From the trial in the book, we know that it is a 1 hour and 35 minute bus ride away (when traveling in the middle of the night with presumably no traffic) from Greenville, NC. Dangerous predators must be killed or you will die. Tate never sees it. I think Chase caught her coming back in the night and followed her to the tower. Even Chases mother didnt recognize that her son was missing the necklace until well after the fact, weeks later even. In my opinion, he wore it as a sort trophy. Dont get me wrong, he is despicable, and his behavior and actions towards her were unforgivable, but I think buried deep in all that, there was a small potential to be a good person. Witherspoon told Vanity Fair in. Still confused over something? The females got what they wantedfirst a mate, then a mealjust by changing their signals. He was a Big Man on Campus say his mom when she asks the sheriff about the necklace she saw one night at dinner when Pearl, the wife was not there. I believe this scuffle on the dock couldve been the exchange in fibers from Tates red hat. When the entire town of Barkley Cove attends Kyas funeral, readers see the extent to which the narrative surrounding her changed in the aftermath of the trial. Many viewers were shocked by the surprising conclusion of Where the Crawdads Sing. Not too soon after, the townspeople suspect who they call . Someone here asked why Kya would have kept the red hat in her home if she ever thought about fiber evidence being used against her. From the trial in the book, we know that it is a 1 hour and 35 minute bus ride away (when traveling in the middle of the night with presumably no traffic) from Greenville, NC. Did Tate and marsh girl ever have children? Possibly that cat hair sticks to clothing and hands while petting it. The murderer question bothers meI just finished the book: Kya did NOT kill Chase. But its never clear. was unable to carry out her plan to plant the shell neckless on Tate. Consequently, she had to address the matter herself, becoming the human version of a female firefly in a mere act of survival. It was a small town. All the same, though, her acceptance of romance doesnt change her overall outlook on life, which prioritizes survival over all elsea somewhat sinister fact, given that she seemingly no longer has any reason to think in such ruthless terms. How old was kya when she was arrested for murder? I loved this book but was hoping for more answers or a detailed account of how she lured/killed him. Directed by Olivia Newman from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar, the film is an adaptation of Delia Owens' best-selling 2018 novel of the same name. He loved her like is own daughter and he said he deserved to die for what he did. How in the world would she demise shut a plan. Poems by Emily Dickinson. He did wear the shell necklace every day from the time she gave it to him, even for the year after she dumped him. The novel is set in the fictional town of Barkley Cove, North Carolina in the 1950s. And she never gets sick..,only steps on a rusted nail once. Chases wife shocked at the murder she just commuted and furious that Kya a marsh girl had captivated her husband, she sets out to lay the necklace on Kyas front porch as a means of Chases final good buy to Kya and to possibly frame her. Suddenly, it becomes clear to Tate that Kya did kill Chase, that she perfectly planned the murder by disguising herself on buses and riding her boat on riptides to get to the fire tower in time. Its quite easy to imagine a conversation taking place planning Chases murder. How did Chase get to the tower before his death? He was married.I didnt think he truly loved Kya or he would not have abused her. At first, it. If not, Tate is the one who made arrangements for her to get published. Thank you! Did she think she was pregnant? There is one poem about murdering Chase, and with it is Chases missing shell necklace, tying her to his murder. I think that it is likely that Jumpin helped Kya, as he does mention how it is good that she will be out of town and how she should let him know when she goes. In some ways it makes sense because her relationship with humans (with the exception of Tate and a few others) were never the best experiences for her compared to her relationship with nature. Tate searches their Marsh home and finds Chase's missing shell necklace along with some of Kya's poems. The night her mum sends a letter he gets drunk and abusive again so did Kya go into survival mode again? The female firefly that Kya watches eat a potential mate represents the same kind of power that she herself taps into when she uses her own sex appeal to lure Chase into a death trap. Was he put in jail or killed? And in the last chapter, it seems like Tate and Kya never had the conversation about what happened to Chase, is only when she died that he knew that was her. Who are the kids that are shown briefly at the end of the movie? i just watched the movie yesterday, planning on reading the book but I havent yet. We all are still talking about it. Hi Nancy, the sheriff was letting Tate know that his dad passed away. (If you google this question, the city of Asheville sometimes comes up as the answer, but that is not accurate. She never expressed vanity before. just life pulsing on, even at the expense of some of the players. Down, down he falls, His eyes still holding mine / Until they see another world.). But the link is broken on the Chase question! Another child teaches her to read? In the movie there was a scene with adults and children running towards her. Im an avid reader of John Grishams courtroom drama stories, and havent found another author that compares, until Delia Owens Where the Crawdads Sing. What did she mean by we already are like the geese. Oh and the Firefly poem is just her observation on what may have happened to Chase and his wife, not reflection on Kya and Chases relationship. i get what happened and why with all he hints throughout about Kyas thought on Nature and lovers etc. Titled "The Firefly," the piece contains a metaphor . Love must be free to wander, To land upon its chosen shore Do you think he agreed with the murder or felt differently about her in anyway as a result? His parents last name was also Andrews. When Chase attempts to rape her, he was drunk and hit her. 1. Before the incident she unleashed her being lied to and left. And there is a red hat found in Kyas place later. What did he see when he was walking at night. Why was she unable to get pregnant with Tate? It is revealed through a poem titled 'The Firefly' that Kya was in fact the one to kill Chase. Just finished the book. With so little time to do all that, how did she know that Chase would be at the Tower? Maybe Pearl (Chases wife) killed him for all his infidelity. And Tate ended up with it, right? How did it get to Kyas shack? See the archives. Also, commenter Si Aspen adds: On pg 222, there is a conversation between Kya and Jumpin. I was wondering if calling Chase Chase was a symbolic choice. So, the red hat mostly serves to provide intriguing but not definitive evidence at the trial and during the investigation. It would make sense to have an accomplice. Incidentally, its also the city where Delia Owens lives.). I understand the author lives in Asheville but using it made me question everything else. His wife ends up pushing her husband Chase off the tower that night. One detail did not work out as planned. Also, I couldnt help reflect further on the contrast wiht Chase and Tate with the alfha male and sneaker fuckers data. The Where the Crawdads Sing Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. I felt like the obvious side of his character is that he is the full representation of Toxic Masculinity. Where the Crawdads Sing is a 2018 novel by Delia Owens. I have searched all around the chapter before and after! Where the Crawdads Sing is both a coming-of-age novel and a crime drama in which Owens explores the complex circumstances that Catherine "Kya" Clark must endure as she grows . And, one more quote from earlier in the book: Kya watched others. There was nothing premeditated in her at all. I work in the dental field, it is extremely likely that someone with a natural diet who eats very little sugar wouldnt have cavities. How is that possible? What happened to Kyas father? Kya raised herself from the age of 5 in a swamp? It states, In another time and place, an old black man and a young white woman might have hugged. But when she got his effects it wasnt there. Kya had intended to frame Tate for the murder. The infamous red hat. What are the titles of all the books Kya (Catherine Danielle Clark) wrote throughout her lifetime? Great book. Toch de voorliefde voor de natuur en de mens, kan de kracht en schoonheid evenaren, Does the lawyer know kya is guilty? The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. it is just about survival. Where the Crawdads Sing is a 2022 American mystery thriller drama film based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Delia Owens.It was directed by Olivia Newman from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar, and was produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter. How would Jumpin know that unless he was involved somehow? in general, defendants in criminal cases dont testify unless their lawyer feels they absolutely must for some reason. *** (lovers is plural !). Not just the one about connecting her to Chases murder? Nooit gedacht dat ik dit boek zou uitlezen, alhoewel ik het niet voor mogelijk hou dat een meisje dat n dag naar school gaat, zo grote resultaten behaald. (Then they stopped laughing and simply looked at each other as they lobbed the cap back and forth until she motored around the bend.). Did I miss what happened to Kyas father? The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. It was the marsh that shielded her from being placed at the scene, almost like it was her real family coming to her rescue. Hello- love your explanations. They end up passing it back and forth, but its not explicitly stated who ends up with it at the end of the exchange. Im hosting a book club about Where the Crawdads sing and needed help remembering sweets she ate in the book. But if you read the poem about flashing valentines and female fireflies luring the males to their deaths, you know she did lure him thereand the rest of the poem makes it clear she killed him. [32] The film was released on July 15, 2022. She knew her father would throw the last punch and he was abusive towards her. Yes, this is my question. Your email address will not be published. Do, no, its not an error. If it is, please direct me. Kya took possession of the shell. Did the lawyer know Kya was guilty before the trial?/after the trial?/ not at all! The shell was missing from the body. I would really like to understand the meaning of some of the poems in the book. You dont kill a human being because of your circumstances. At end of movie showing credits etc. This Study Guide consists of approximately 40 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Where the Crawdads Sing. Did she have his phone number? Delia Owens. I dont think she killed him, I think it was Tate. A central question of "Where the Crawdads Sing," adapted to film from Delia Owen's popular novel through Lucy Alibar's screenplay, is: Who killed Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson)? Where the crawdads sing, the copperheads make dandy pets, and shoes are for drylanders. So I sympathize with Kya, and I think even though I was not abandoned as a child, I have felt abandoned in my life, and identify with her feelings and fears of living her entire life alone and unloved. to go out and KILL Kya. I thought Kya mentioned in the book how Chase died and how she covered her tracks but I went back to earlier chapters and I could not find it. 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