UNWIND Storked

S T O R K E D

This section opens with a mother abandoning her newborn infant on the doorstep of a house in a good neighbourhood. As she leaves, she thinks "How wonderful it is that she can get a second chance. How wonderful it is that she can dismiss her responsibility so easily."  

Risa overhears two nurses debating law and human nature. Which argument do you think is the stronger? Why do you think this? Write a paragraph explaining your thoughts on law and human nature.
"You can't change laws without first changing human nature"- Nurse Greta.

In this story, laws are created and legislatively enacted by the people of the public. Therefore, their human nature has to change before the law can, as human nature is the main component in controlling what we do, decide, and find ethical as human beings.

In your opinion, by allowing new mothers to give up their children so readily, does it take away from the value of a child?  In my opinion, children shouldn't have a value. All human lives should be priceless, there shouldn't be anything that could match the value of a human life. Although I agree it is entirely up to a mother whether she keeps her child or gets an abortion, this is a bit different. People shouldn't be allowed to dump their kids on someone else's doorstep who is unwilling to look after them and love them.

What is the role of a mother? Do you think the title of mother is something that should be earned, or a natural right of the woman who gave birth?
The role of being a mother should be earned by wanting and doing whats best for your child/ren. Very often, parents don't stick around or stay in their children's lives. Some people give their children up for adoption when they're born for various reasons (e.g financially unstable or too young to look after it), but make an effort to see them whenever they can. That's what being a mother is. If you're a mother, you should support your child, love them and be there for them, or at the very least, not kill them as soon as they turn 14.

What skills or attributes do Connor and Risa have that work well together?

In most ways, Connor and Risa are opposites. When they first meet, Risa is quite a careful person, whereas Connor makes impulsive decisions. Having Risa around seems to change Connor. He starts to think more before he acts, and makes better choices. They're both quite intelligent, for example when they pretended to argue in front of Lev to test his loyalty and see if he would run. Yet, neither of them were 100% sure whether the fighting was real or not. They both find it difficult to trust other people, which is a strangely helpful insecurity to have when you're in their position.

Connor and Lev have very different experiences with storking. How has this helped shape each of their attitudes toward the society they live in?

Lev's experience with storking didn't end in tragedy, whereas Connors did, and he held himself accountable. Because of this, Connor has empathy for children who have been storked. Lev on the other hand doesn't really think about it, because from what he's seen it always ends happily.

Connor is concerned the baby won't be loved, and ultimately will die, so he takes it. What does this show us about him as a person?  
It shows you that he is very kind and understanding, and puts other peoples needs ahead of his. He's empathetic for those who are in similar situations as him, or those who are in similar situations but with extremely different backgrounds and stories as to how they got into said situations.

What makes Lev realise he doesn't want to be unwound? P79

When he realises that his life has been a lie, and that his so called "Holy mission" was a scam. He starts to feel lost and confused when Pastor Dan picks up the phone, and explains to Lev that he had managed to convince his parents that him getting kidnapped was 'God's plan'. Lev still believes it's hid duty to be tithed. But then the Pastor tells Lev something he'd never been told before: "Don't you see, Lev? You can save yourself. You can be anyone you want to be now."

I think this is the point in the story when Lev starts to realise he doesn't really want to die.

Each of the other characters on the run has a tragic background story. Why were Hayden, Roland and Mai set to be unwound? Which, do you think, is the most tragic? Explain your response.

In my opinion, Hayden's story is quite sad. His parents didn't really care what happened to him. They hated each other so much, they'd rather watch their son be killed than let the other have him. Hayden's parents didn't see him as a human, or even as their son. They just saw him as an object, an object they only wanted and fought over for so long, to ensure the other couldn't have it.

What tattoo does Roland have?

He has a shark tattooed on his forearm.