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Poem Analysis: Silent But Deadly

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Silent but Deadly

Victor Wang
Ms. Babcock
ENG 1D1
May 9th, 2016

All that is left behind is a suicide note and a playlist of songs – no clear explanation – only a boy named Sam left clueless and drowning in melancholy. In Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff, the unexpected death of Hayden leaves a searing and unbearable hole in Sam’s mind. Not only was Hayden Sam's best friend, but he was also his confidante. Sam lived a life where his wellbeing was cemented in a foundation based on more of Hayden than on himself. Prior to Hayden’s death, Sam was dealing with his own mental battle, with an estranged father and a constantly-working mother. After the death, he cannot help but visit places such as the comic store – anything that …show more content…

The collection of mysterious objects, including the rose and toy wizard, all represent reticence. The theme is furthered by Sam’s closed-mindedness towards the characters of Astrid and Mr. Beaumont. Finally, the theme is supported by the two conflicts between Sam and his mom, and Hayden and Jess. As a result of Sam’s ignorant and stubborn personality, his own mom, his peers and even his guidance counselor are pushed further away from him. Sam realizes this near the end of the text, and regrets the decisions he made. Regret is the most powerful emotion one can experience. Though it can be “tucked” away into the deepest parts of your memory, even the smallest dose of regret can strain your mind and body until both are broken down, powerless. Much of the plot of Playlist from the Dead follows Sam through memory lane, and the sickening realizations that he has throughout. From the regret of not learning more about Hayden’s “real” personality, to something as small as the regret of provoking that fight with his mother, Sam is gradually weakened by the realization that all this can never be reversed – no matter how much crying, how much grieving, how many times Sam listens to the playlist. Even though it is Hayden’s playlist that Sam listens to again and again, it is Hayden’s own voice that Sam will never hear. Looking back, the playlist is originally tagged with the text: “listen, and you’ll understand” (Falkoff 4). What if the end goal of the playlist is not for a particular message to be found, but instead for Sam to simply listen to Hayden, something he would only do now that Hayden is

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