Alive Quote by Susan Beth Pfeffer
“Matt looked up kids from his high school class. Only three were listed as dead, but a bunch were listed as missing/presumed dead. As a test, he looked us up, but none of our names were on any of the lists. And that's how we know we're alive this Memorial Day.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Survivors by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 2000
The narrator reflects on the absurdity of war lists, realizing survival is confirmed by omission from death records.
In simple terms: Survival is proved by not being on a death list.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate life when it's not listed as dead.
Themes
war
survival
memory
identity
Mood
reflective
somber
hopeful
Type
narrative
philosophical
memorial
When to use this quote
- military families
- memorial services
- record keeping
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
bureaucracy
existential irony
human resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How does being omitted from a death list change your sense of self?
- What responsibilities arise from being alive while others are missing?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize tragedy and ignore systemic failures in record-keeping.
