Diving Bell #3

1. What is significant about the last line in Guardian Angel?

Do to his condition Bauby is really beginning to feel detached from the rest of society, he cannot communicate with others the way he would like to, it is as though he is not even there, as though he is not even apart of the world.

2. What is ironic about the photograph he recieves from his father in The Photo?

The photograph was taken when he was a child on vacation in the same location that he is now a prisoner.

3. Do Bauby's dreams give us any insight into his condition? Be specific.

The dream seems to suggest the feeling he has in his condition that he is not in control of his own life, because in the dream he is unable to control the events that happen to him, like being captured by the cult, drinking the alcohol, being unable to move or speak, and almost getting arrested. There is nothing he can do about it.

4. Where is Bauby's butterfly in My Lucky Day?

His butterfly is in his hospital room, completely conscious of the situation he faces and the misery of his condition.

5. After reading, Our Very Own Madonna and Through a Glass, Darkly, Bauby seems to have regrets about not appreciating small moments from his earlier life. Can you think of a moment from your own life that you did not truly appreciate until it was over? How can we learn to live so that we appreciate significant moments. Is this even possible?

There was a time when I very young when I could enjoy life without regrets, oblivious to the horrors of humanity, when I was happy. It is possible to learn to appreciate significant moments, as long as you can take the time to step back from your life, or even just a moment in your life, and be thankful for what you’ve got then and there, and appreciate it before you lose it.