Day 8

Infinite Jest Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    As Gately lies intubated and immobile in his hospital bed, Joelle tells him about how she used to characterize her days of sobriety when she was smoking crack. She says:

    "I’d bunker up all white-knuckled and stay straight. And count the days. I was proud of each day I stayed off. Each day seemed evidence of something, and I counted them. I’d add them up. Line them up end to end. You know?’ Gately knows very well but doesn’t nod, lets her do this on just her own steam. She says ‘And soon it would get… improbable. As if each day was a car Knievel had to clear. One car, two cars. By the time I’d get up to say like maybe about 14 cars, it would begin to seem like this staggering number....

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