The Passage trilogy readalong discussion

How did you all feel about the last few chapters of Wolgast's life with Amy in the lodge?

I'm a little torn on the meaning.

Towards the end, Wolgast seems to be looking for something else... something other than the lodge. He begins thinking about taking Amy somewhere else. Usually this is for safety considerations, but there are times he seems to wonder what he should/could be doing beyond the lodge. This was strange to me because it initially seemed like this was all he wanted from life - to retire with someone to look after.

I wonder if Wolgast's death is meant to remind us of what Carter said, that Rachel chose 'the right time'. I wonder if Wolgast's death was at 'the right time'. His purpose was to save Amy and he fulfilled that (in addition to getting the chance to be a father) and so his death would, I suppose, meet Carter's thoughts on not hanging around longer than need be?

It always seemed to me that Wolgast spent his life looking back and although paying lip service to moving on actually never wanting to move forward. His time with Amy at the lodge was typical of this. He regressed into the father he wanted to be ... at a location that he knew and had had some happy memories. As in life generally, he knew that he should move on but treasured familiarity over change.

Wolgast felt he had to save Amy and I believe Lacey told him the same, but I really believe she really came in to his life to save him. To me, this one of the most heartbreaking relationships in the entire book. Their relationship felt like it was still beginning right before his last chapter.

Jess wrote: "Wolgast felt he had to save Amy and I believe Lacey told him the same, but I really believe she really came in to his life to save him. To me, this one of the most heartbreaking relationships in th..."

I agree, Jess. Wolgast was such a sad man, and finding Amy did save him emotionally, as he saved her physically. He was more attached to her than she was to him, I think, but then she did have a greater destiny. She may not have been heartbroken when he died, but I sure was.

Glenna wrote: "Jess wrote: "Wolgast felt he had to save Amy and I believe Lacey told him the same, but I really believe she really came in to his life to save him. To me, this one of the most heartbreaking relati..."

My first read through, I had to go back and read his last few paragraphs, to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me!

Glenna wrote: "Jess wrote: "Wolgast felt he had to save Amy and I believe Lacey told him the same, but I really believe she really came in to his life to save him. To me, this one of the most heartbreaking relati..."

That is so perfectly put. I wish I'd read this before submitting my readalong post earlier... It would have been quoted on there - Doh!

I think you are right. Wolgast dies apologising and saying he didn't see the plan, but his part of the plan was fulfilled. He got Amy away from the chaos of the world (that we see collapsed) and made sure she survived in order to carry out whatever the greater purpose Lacey knew she had. When you consider that 500,000,000 died / were turned into virals (if Michael's estimates are correct)... Wolgast's saving of Amy is remarkable.

Marc wrote: "Glenna wrote: "Jess wrote: "Wolgast felt he had to save Amy and I believe Lacey told him the same, but I really believe she really came in to his life to save him. To me, this one of the most heart..."

Marc, I took a bit of time to your original question, sorry! But thank you for considering the quote :)

I did the same Jess. I remember how shocked I was the first time I read The Pagge... all these great characters and boom, they were all dead! :)