Simon Sort of Says

Death is a foundational motif in Simon Sort of Says, as it is the reason for his family’s move, for his trauma, and for many of the decisions that Simon makes. Simon lives in a funeral home and his mother is a funeral director, which means that Simon is already somewhat used to the concept of death. He approaches it from a position of levity, illustrating The Importance of Humor in Life’s Darkest Moments. Simon and his mother both joke about death often, which helps them cope and accept it.

Simon was the only survivor when his class was killed in a school shooting, and this had a major and lasting impact on his psyche. He hates being pitied or seen as different, and reminders of the incident only make matters worse for Simon. The school holds a memorial for the shooting, and Simon can barely stand to be there. When his classmates build a shrine for him, Simon explodes at Agate and then runs home, unable to face the attention. Simon’s relationship with the concept of death is extraordinarily complex for this reason; he makes every attempt to avoid it but is constantly surrounded by it at home.

Catholicism is an important motif in the story, as it lays the foundation for Simon’s moral system and exists as a major part of his family life. Simon begins his narrative by detailing the day that alpacas got loose in his father’s church back in Eagle Crest. By the way that Simon tells the story, it seems likely that he’s making it up, but it turns out to be entirely true. Simon uses the story to cover up the real reason that he and his family had to leave Eagle Crest, acting as an early glimpse into The Importance of Humor in Life’s Darkest Moments.

Simon’s father is serious about his religion, and Simon’s mother is a little more laidback but always insists that Simon attend Sunday Mass. Simon never complains about going to church, and the dramatic events that always seem to happen around Simon’s father continue in the new town. The church is at one point invaded by a squirrel nicknamed the “Jesus Squirrel” because it eats all the consecrated bread (80). The same squirrel later returns and chews through the lightning rod cable, causing the church to catch on fire during the next storm. All these events draw attention to Simon’s father, and Simon witnesses his father’s graceful handling of the situation, which he then applies to his own life. Simon feels unconditionally protected by his parents and sometimes compares them to angels: “My parents lean over me, arms around each other, and it feels like they’re angels spreading their wings over me like in a picture” (189). When Simon’s dad gives a sermon about his doubt in God’s plan, it represents a shift toward confidence and an acceptance of the fact that life is often deeply unfair.