Since we’ve wrapped up TFZ, Dr. Scanlon mentioned that the death of the boy was described by Borden as a “jerk” as opposed to the “sighs” and less actionable departures of life (death, plainly) that we’ve seen in books we’ve read previously.
This sticks out to me, and I’m still not entirely sure why. I think its because this soldier is described boyishly or as the “boy” in this section of the text. In my mind, I find him to be more spry and imagine he would have the mobility to die in that manner anyways, opposed to some of the older solider present in this text (and other books we’ve read in general).
I also perceive a sigh and its action as a departure, a relinquish/retirement of breath, or to show exhaustion. His death as a jerk, rather than a sigh, perhaps still speaks to the life the boy would’ve have, despite his injury, been able to retain depite his fatal condition.
I definitely agree with you. I believe that there is some significance to why Borden described his death as a jerk. When I think of a sigh, I also think about exhaustion. Maybe the soldiers who died with sighs already accepted their fate, and their bodies were prepared to rest in a way. Since the boy died with a jerk, I read it as him not being ready to die even though his body was giving out.