Themes
There are two themes in If I Stay that really stick out. One theme is "Love can decide between life and death". The second theme is "Reflecting on the past can change the future".
"Love can decide between life and death" is a constant theme that occurs thoughout the entire story. Mia has to decide between life and death after experiencing a life changing car accident. Mia loves her grandparents, her boyfriend, and her best friend. That can change her decision whether or not to stay living or die. " "So you talk to her. You tell her to take all the time she needs, but to come on back. You're waiting for her." " (Forman 82). The nurse is telling Mia's grandparents that Mia decides to live. Reassuring her with love might be able to bring her back. "I need Adam" (Forman 120). At this point in the story, Mia knows that she has to decide to live or to die. She needs Adam to help her come back. "I summon all the love I have ever felt, I summon all the strength that Grang and Gramps and Kim and the nurses and Willow have given to me" (Forman 234). Mia is uses all of the love that she has gotten that day to try and come back. With all of the strength that Mia has from her love, she squeezes Adam's hand and is finally living again.
"Reflecting on the past can change the future." is the second theme in this novel. During the story, Mia constantly reflects on her past during her flashbacks. Reflecting on the past can make changes in the future. It could change peoples minds. "And I knew that Carnegie Hall wasn't going anywhere, I'd get there someday." (Forman 86). Mia was supposed to go to Carnegie Hall to perform, but the birth of her little brother interferred with that. MIa was not upset because she knew that she would get there someday. Mia can only get there if she returns to the world. "I'm only ten years older that him, but it's like I've already had so much more life." (Forman 160). Mia goes back and forth between life and death. Now she begins to think about Teddy and how Teddy hasn't been able top live a long life. She believes it wasn't fair. This reflection makes Mia want to chose death. "The only way to survive them is to concentrate on Adam's hand. Grasping Mine" (Forman 233). Mia realizes that she isn't going to remeber her past if she chooses death. Every remember will disappear. She needs life more than anything. She needs to remember her life, parents, and her brother.
"Love can decide between life and death" is a constant theme that occurs thoughout the entire story. Mia has to decide between life and death after experiencing a life changing car accident. Mia loves her grandparents, her boyfriend, and her best friend. That can change her decision whether or not to stay living or die. " "So you talk to her. You tell her to take all the time she needs, but to come on back. You're waiting for her." " (Forman 82). The nurse is telling Mia's grandparents that Mia decides to live. Reassuring her with love might be able to bring her back. "I need Adam" (Forman 120). At this point in the story, Mia knows that she has to decide to live or to die. She needs Adam to help her come back. "I summon all the love I have ever felt, I summon all the strength that Grang and Gramps and Kim and the nurses and Willow have given to me" (Forman 234). Mia is uses all of the love that she has gotten that day to try and come back. With all of the strength that Mia has from her love, she squeezes Adam's hand and is finally living again.
"Reflecting on the past can change the future." is the second theme in this novel. During the story, Mia constantly reflects on her past during her flashbacks. Reflecting on the past can make changes in the future. It could change peoples minds. "And I knew that Carnegie Hall wasn't going anywhere, I'd get there someday." (Forman 86). Mia was supposed to go to Carnegie Hall to perform, but the birth of her little brother interferred with that. MIa was not upset because she knew that she would get there someday. Mia can only get there if she returns to the world. "I'm only ten years older that him, but it's like I've already had so much more life." (Forman 160). Mia goes back and forth between life and death. Now she begins to think about Teddy and how Teddy hasn't been able top live a long life. She believes it wasn't fair. This reflection makes Mia want to chose death. "The only way to survive them is to concentrate on Adam's hand. Grasping Mine" (Forman 233). Mia realizes that she isn't going to remeber her past if she chooses death. Every remember will disappear. She needs life more than anything. She needs to remember her life, parents, and her brother.