Chapter 33 Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In Chapter 33 the narrator, Bodie Kane, directly addresses Mr. Bloch, a former teacher at Granby School. She admits she was wrong about him—but clarifies that being mistaken is not the same as being incorrect. She recalls a freshman orientation exercise in which students mimicked machine parts to form a collective human machine. Bodie then applies that metaphor to Mr. Bloch: he was a part of the machine that led to Thalia Keith’s death. She reframes his culpability through a hunting image—someone wounds a deer, and the second hunter finishes it because the deer can no longer run. Mr. Bloch, she implies, played a supporting role: he distracted, drove, or held down, enabling the fatal act by others.
Key Events
- Bodie begins the chapter by directly addressing Mr. Bloch, stating she was wrong about him but still does not feel entirely wrong.
- She differentiates between being “mistaken” and being “incorrect,” suggesting a nuanced re‑evaluation.
- A memory of the freshman‑orientation machine game is recounted—students creating a “hormonal machine” on the hockey field.
- Bodie uses a series of analogies to describe Mr. Bloch’s role: part of the machine, a getaway driver, a brick‑thrower, a distraction for federal agents, and finally, someone who wounds a deer so it cannot escape the second hunter.
- The chapter ends with the implication that Mr. Bloch’s actions, while not the direct fatal blow, made the killing possible.
Character Development
- Bodie Kane (narrator): Demonstrates a capacity for self‑correction without full exoneration of others. She is grappling with the complexity of moral responsibility, moving beyond simplistic judgments.
- Mr. Bloch: Remains an offstage presence, but Bodie’s address redefines him from a primary suspect to a crucial accomplice. His characterization shifts from outright villain to enabler.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Human Machine: The orientation game symbolizes how individuals become cogs in a larger system. Mr. Bloch was a part of the destructive “machine” that led to Thalia’s death, suggesting collective rather than sole culpability.
- Hunting/Deer Wounding: The metaphor of wounding a deer so a second hunter can kill it emphasises that indirect actions can be as fatal as direct ones. It captures the idea of crippling a victim’s chance to escape.
- Mistaken vs. Incorrect: Bodie’s wordplay reflects the theme of truth and perception. Being factually wrong about a person’s direct involvement does not erase the moral truth of their complicity.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 33 marks a turning point in Bodie’s internal investigation. She no longer sees Mr. Bloch as the sole villain but as a participant in a network of responsibility. This nuanced view aligns with the novel’s broader critique of how institutions and individuals share blame for systemic failures. The chapter also reframes the detective work Bodie is doing on her podcast: it is not about finding one guilty party but understanding how many people’s actions converged to enable a tragedy.
Study Questions and Answers
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What does Bodie mean when she says she was “mistaken, but I wasn’t incorrect”?
She acknowledges that her earlier belief about Mr. Bloch’s direct role in Thalia’s death was factually wrong, but the essential moral judgment—that he bears responsibility—remains correct. She separates literal accuracy from moral truth. -
How do the machine and hunting metaphors deepen the reader’s understanding of complicity?
The machine metaphor shows that Mr. Bloch was an integral part of a system that caused harm, not a lone actor. The hunting metaphor illustrates how harming someone in a way that leaves them vulnerable allows others to deliver the final blow, making the first wounder equally culpable. -
Why might Bodie choose to address this chapter directly to Mr. Bloch?
Direct address creates an intimate, almost confessional tone. It forces both Bodie and the reader to confront Mr. Bloch as a person rather than a symbol. It also signals that Bodie’s podcast and her re‑examination are a form of accountability—she is speaking to him, not just about him.