Re-Read Matched in October! discussion

Okay MATCHED re-readers, let's delve in to Chapters 8-14, shall we? Discussion questions below!

Are you familiar with “Crossing the Bar,” by Alfred Lord Tennyson and “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas?

Why do you think those particular poems were on the piece of paper in Cassia’s compact?

Why do you think they were not included in the Hundred Poems?

Would you take the green tablet if you had access to it?

Why do you think Cassia, Ky, and Xander don’t get help when Em has a panic attack at the music hall?

Were you surprised when Xander gave Em his green tablet?

I was really surprised when Xander gave Em his tablet without hesitation. I think I had labeled Xander as a perfect Society citizen who would never break the rules, or at least as a citizen that would trust the Society enough to want to tell someone about Em's panic attack instead of try to solve it himself.

Once he gave her the tablet, though, it completely changed my opinion of Xander, and made me wonder how many people in the Society find their own ways to rebel. Maybe Cassia and her grandfather aren't as unusual as I thought at the beginning.

Penguin wrote: "Are you familiar with “Crossing the Bar,” by Alfred Lord Tennyson and “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas?

Why do you think those particular poems were on the piece of paper i..."
I had been familiar with the Thomas poem, but not the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem. I think they are both beautiful poems and fit so well with the storyline. I think that after talking to Cassia after her Match Banquet, Grandfather knew he could trust her with these poems, and that maybe he had a little faith in Cassia, knowing that she would make the right decision with what to do with the words. Both in the sense that she needed to destroy them (What repercusions would have occured if an official had found the piece of paper after his Final Banquet? Would Cassia's family had been in trouble? etc) and also that she may take away from the poem that there is something not right with the Society, and perhaps she can help fix it. I think they weren't included because they are suggestive of a rebellion, and the Society would do anything they could to get rid of anything putting those kinds of thoughts into people's minds.

Penguin wrote: "Would you take the green tablet if you had access to it?

Why do you think Cassia, Ky, and Xander don’t get help when Em has a panic attack at the music hall?

Were you surprised when Xander gave..."

I think in certain circumstances, I would. Given what Society members are told about the pills, I probably would believe what they say about them, seeing how a lot of people take them and they are believed to be safe. It does make me think about the medicines we have today. There is practically a pill for everything, and while modern medicine helps so many people, sometimes taking a pill isn't the best option. So it's definitely something to think on.

I think they don't get help because they know that it would not be wise to draw attention to themselves. They don't want anything to happen negatively to their friend, so they help her how they can.

I was a little surprised that Xander gave his pill to Em. He seems like someone that follows the rules, and wouldn't normally do something like that, which makes me want to know more about Xander!

I think the reason they didn't seek out help for Em was to help her avoid a scene and possible complications with officials - especially since she'd already taken one pill that morning. They might claim there is something mentally wrong with her and feel it necessary to do a psych evaluation on her.