Part III: Come, My Soul That Hath Long Languished...

The end of them, "Come, My Soul That Hath So Long Languished..." is a long development of the statement "Behind everything lay love, a hunger and a mystery." By this point in the novel, you have met all the characters that matter and all the ones who lead to something greater. It centers around the race riots of 1968, Jule's recovery from his tragedy with Nadine, and Maureen's pursuit of a married man, all these things underlined with some other meaning.

The race riots weren't just about racism, but also about change, evolution. Though it was very violent, sending the city of Detroit into anarchy and burning buildings, it was about making the world a better place for everybody. Equality in man, and all that. Chances of racism and white supremacy can be seen in all the characters, but Jules changes his ways by the end of the novel saying "it is only necessary to understand that fire burns and does its duty, perpetually, and the fires will never be put out". He talks about how this fight is one that will last a long while, which is evident in history today.

After Jules recovers from his incident with Nadine, he is a broken man. in his reflection he sees "a stranger, possibly an enemy". It shows that none of us can really know ourselves. One thing could disrupt an entire lifestyle, making one see things in a new light. Life "is the elaboration of justice out of man's control, it is in the hands of God". You can either accept things as they are, or become like Jules, letting things weigh down upon you until you become an empty shell, essentially dead.

Maureen pursues, and eventually marries, a married man with three kids. She took pride in the fact that SHE had the power to make him forget his family and love her. Its ironic, because in the process of acquiring this new husband of hers, she forgets her own family and begins to no longer

associate herself with them. The quote at the top of my blog says "But, honey, aren't you one of them yourself?". This is what Jules asks her at the end of the novel, after she refutes any claim with her former loved ones. It's true, that no matter how hard you try, you still have that link that ties you back to your family. You can't escape them, and you shouldn't have too.

them is more than just a novel following the lives of a fractured family from America, its a testimony to living life the way you want too. If you want to have the love of your life, them tells you that you can, but then shows you that there will bumps in the road. If you want to grow up and DO something with your life, them encourages and inspires you. It makes you want to rebel, and then gives you a worthy cause to rally behind. It is a trunk load of aphorisms, and worth its weight in history. them boldly states that "the scenery changes as fast as you can snap your fingers!" and then timidly asks "How can you live without getting free of yourself once in a while?"