They Both Die at the End Analysis - Leyla

     

    They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a heart-wrenching novel about the contemplations surrounding the anticipation of death. The story centers around two troubled teens, Mateo and Rufus, who receive a phone call informing them that they will meet an untimely death in the next 24 hours. Their situation declaring them Deckers, they seek an opportunity to live the rest of their lives with personal fulfillment. Rufus is a foster kid struggling with facing the reality of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Aimee, and Mateo is an introvert living alone with his father in critical condition, afraid to take risks but longing to discover a new side of himself. They match on Last Friends, an app for Deckers and Non-Deckers to chat and keep each other company while one or both have the burden of carrying knowledge of their own approaching demise. Rufus and Mateo instantly connect online and decide to embark on an adventure that will satisfy the rest of the time they live on earth. 

    Because of this book, I have begun to ponder the thought of knowing when I will die. In They Both Die at the End, Death-Cast, the company that informs others of their own fate, is viewed in a positive light. It is recognized and acknowledged as convenient that those who will meet the end of their lives are informed of the event prior. For example, Mateo remarks on a moment in his childhood where one of his teachers is praising this new technology and complaining about its nonexistence in the past. "My teacher, Mr. Poland, would tell us 'how good we got it' for having Death-Cast's services. He'd assign us reports where we reimagined periods of significant deaths---the plague, the world wars, 9/11, et cetera---and how people would've behaved had Death-Cast been around to deliver the warning" (Silvera 172). Would we be living in a better world if each of us knew when we were going to die? It really is intriguing to consider. I started reading this book, expecting a heavy dystopian theme, but the way that the service of Death-Cast is framed paints this world as more of a utopia. 

    I suppose knowing when you would die, or having a general sense of when you would die, may increase awareness of personal surroundings and the environment around you. You'll be warned and be able to protect yourself to some degree. However, there is also the question of looking fate in the eye and killing yourself off. In this case there would have to be limitations to fate, and it would have to change over time. After learning of their death day, one might even be encouraged to take more risks, to fulfill all kinds of goals they were planning to do before they depart from the world. Imagine cramming all of those experiences in one day. It seems exhilarating and frightening at the same time. During several instances in the book, Mateo and Rufus are careful to avoid dangerous situations where they could meet their demise rather sadly, such as in a broken elevator or while crossing the street. People may want to consider where they want to die and wish to give a proper goodbye. There is a variety of obvious reasons why Death-Cast would be helpful and would better support humanity, but would their services benefit society as a whole? 

    They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera raises the contradictory and controversial question about whether living in an essentially omnipotent society is ideal or destructive. I recommend this book for people who enjoy thinking about hard and complex questions and are specifically interested in how certain situations will unfold. If you enjoy suspense, adventure, and heartwarming friendships along with the given soul-crushing despair of reality, you should definitely plan to read this book in the future. Or perhaps, before you receive your alert.