Language is tricky under the best of circumstances, but throw in a few radiation bombs and a separated society and language becomes almost impossible. The characters in Pure struggle with vocabulary. What are oysters? What's a briefcase? Why is a pincushion called a pincushion?
In fact, these characters can't even communicate to themselves what they're feeling. This creates an insane level of alienation… both from themselves, and between themselves and others.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Why does not remembering a certain word bother some of the characters so much?
- If the people inside the Dome had direct and public communication with those outside the Dome, do you think there would be less hostility?
- How does Language and Communication connect to the theme of Memory and the Past?
- Do any words that characters place a lot of emphasis on (like confetti or chandelier) seem to hold high importance?