The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

by Michael Chabon

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What are two quotes from The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay that relate to escapism?

Quick answer:

In The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, escapism is a central theme. Kronblum advises Josef, "Forget about what you are escaping from. Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to," highlighting the focus on future possibilities rather than past constraints. Sammy's escapism is illustrated by his crushed dreams of adventure after learning of his father's death: "Alter Klayman had been crushed... in the act of escaping from his life." Both quotes underscore the yearning for freedom and new beginnings.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay develops the theme of escapism on many levels.  In the third chapter, for instance, we have the words of Kronblum who came to Josef's rescue when he tried a dangerous escape stunt that almost resulted in his brother's and his death:

Forget about what you are escaping from.  Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to.

This quote appears on page 57 in my edition, but it is mentioned first in Chapter 2, page 21.  Here Josef repeats his mentor's words when he is embarking on a journey to escape Nazi-invaded Prague.  Here he must succeed in his escape "trick" in order to survive.  Indeed, this maneuver is just as dangerous as his earlier childhood experiment because it involves taking the place of the Golem in a casket and freeing himself Houdini-like.

Sammy, who lives in the US,  dreams of escaping his overbearing mother.   As a polio-strickened child, he longs to travel with his father--the Mighty Molecule, a circus performer.  Even though his father abandoned his family, and Sammy sees him only briefly, Sammy still entertains hopes that his father will take him with him. Sammy's dreams of escape are crushed when he finds out about his father's death:

"One night, about a year before Joe Kavalier's arrival, a telegram had come with word that . . .Alter Klayman had been crushed and with him Sammy's fondest hope, in the act of escaping from his life, of working with a partner." (page 108)

This quote shows two kinds of escape--Sammy's crushed hope to escape to a world of adventure, and his father's literally crushed body that resulted from his escape from his domestic responsibilities.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial