The Burgess Boys

The conflict that unfolds in the novel’s present day is impacted greatly by the Burgess siblings’ past: The death of their father was central in shaping who each of them became. The accident that killed Mr. Burgess occurred when Bob, only four years old, accidentally shifted the car into gear and struck his father. Bob has no memory of this incident but grew up plagued by guilt and remorse over his role in his father’s death. Though the event was completely accidental and no one truly holds Bob responsible, Bob is unable to forgive himself for what he has done. He lives his life in a constant state of atonement, attempting to punish himself for this wrongdoing. The car accident impacts his adult life because the trauma he experienced as a child is still unresolved. This is evident in the panic that Bob experiences when a Somali woman accuses him of nearly striking her with his car. That Bob refuses to drive the car back to New York shows just how impactful the childhood event remains. It symbolizes all of Bob’s doubts about himself and his certainty that he will never be successful (or at least not as successful as his brother).

When Jim confesses that it was he, not Bob, who struck their father with the car, Bob’s sense of self is completely changed. He initially responds with disbelief, certain that Jim is telling him a cruel lie. However, as Bob grows to accept the possibility that he may not have caused the accident, his life changes. He subconsciously begins to view himself as capable of change and subsequently takes steps to improve his life. That Jim falsely accused Bob of causing the accident speaks to Jim’s desire to be viewed as superior to others. It cements the way the brothers interact, creating patterns that are not broken until Jim reveals the truth.