Fire in My Sister’s Keeper reflects the lack of control the Fitzgeralds have over their life, as well as their attempts to regain said control. Fire, much like Kate’s cancer, is a dangerous force that can spread quickly with no regard for people’s lives. However, even though fire is potentially lethal, it is in many ways less frightening than cancer: there is a straightforward way to eliminate it, and even if it spreads, it will eventually burn itself out. Kate’s leukemia, on the other hand, continues to return over and over again even after the difficult process of destroying it. With this in mind, it makes sense that Brian throws himself into his firefighting, as it allows him to face a problem with an easy—if difficult—solution. Jesse, on the other hand, turns to arson. While his crimes may initially appear to be the polar opposite of Brian’s actions, the fires he sets are his own attempt to enact control over the chaos in his and his family’s lives. However, in both cases, Brian and Jesse are only able to come to terms with the tragedy in their lives when they turn away from fire and accept their inability to save Kate. In this way, fire illustrates the futility of trying to eliminate one’s pain rather than accepting it.
Fire Quotes in My Sister’s Keeper
I’m a coward. There are times when my shift is over that I’ll stay and roll hose, or put on a fresh pot of coffee for the crew coming in, instead of heading straight to my house. I have often wondered why I get more rest in a place where, for the most part, I’m roused out of bed two or three times a night. I think because in a firehouse, I don’t have to worry about emergencies happening—they’re supposed to. The minute I walk through the door at home, I’m worrying about what might come next.
Fire Symbol Timeline in My Sister’s Keeper
