A Little Life Essay Questions

What is the significance of Jude's choice of profession?

Jude is depicted as highly intelligent and talented in many areas. He likely could have been successful in a wide range of professions. Jude's choice to work as a lawyer is significant, especially because he is the only one from his core friend group who does not work in a creative profession (JB is a painter, Malcolm is an architect, and Willem is an actor). While Jude's friends all end up being highly successful in their chosen professions, their creative occupations mean they are in much more financially precarious circumstances. Unlike JB and Malcolm, Jude does not have any family support, and because of his disabilities and health problems, Jude is keenly aware that having more money will make his life more comfortable as his physical condition deteriorates. Jude chooses a more stable profession that is more likely to be lucrative because he carries additional burdens that his friends do not. There are also hints that Jude's work provides an outlet for the anger he carries as a survivor of trauma. Although Jude works in corporate law and therefore is not involved in cases involving rape, abuse, or violence, several other characters mention that he is very cold and cruel in his work. Practicing law gives Jude an outlet for his anger while he is extremely gentle and agreeable in the rest of his personal relationships.

Why is Jude hesitant to accept the support and affection which Harold and Julia offer to him?

Jude is haunted by two fears: first, that anyone who shows him kindness is eventually going to hurt him, and second, that anyone who loves him would recoil with disgust if they knew the truth about his past. The first fear is a result of Jude having been abused by Brother Luke, who was initially very loving with him. As a result of this trauma, Jude is initially haunted by the fear that one day Harold is going to expect sexual favors from him. He cannot believe that anyone would simply want to be kind and nurturing towards him. Jude's fear of betrayal is part of the reason why he finds himself unable to forgive JB after JB cruelly mocks him. Eventually, Jude is able to accept that Harold and Julia genuinely love him. However, Jude continues to feel unworthy of this love, convinced that if Harold or Julia knew the truth about his past, they would be disgusted by him. The only person to whom Jude can ever fully open up is Willem. It is not until after Jude's death that Harold learns the full truth about his adopted son.

Why does Jude stay in a relationship with Caleb even after the relationship becomes abusive?

Jude is drawn to Caleb because he is lonely and curious about what a romantic relationship might be like. However, Caleb shows signs of cruelty very early on when he mocks Jude's need for a wheelchair, encouraging him to hide signs of discomfort. Caleb's cruelty only escalates when he begins to taunt and then beat Jude. However, Jude clings to the relationship in spite of Caleb's abusive behavior. Jude has been subjected to sexual abuse, physical abuse, and cruelty many times before, especially during his childhood and teenage years. In the face of an abuser, his instinct is to submit in an effort to protect himself. Even though Jude is wealthy, successful, and has many supporters who love him, in the face of abusive behavior, he reverts to a passive state. Jude has always been haunted by a sense of unworthiness and has felt that he does not deserve all the love and good fortune that he encounters. In this sense, Caleb's abuse is a relief for Jude because it confirms in his mind that he deserves to be treated badly.

Why does Andy keep Jude's secrets? Is he justified in doing so? Why or why not?

Because Andy provides medical treatment to Jude, he is the first person to see Jude's body and the full extent of his scars. Jude confides his full history to Andy because he wants to get as much medical help as he can. He might also be more inclined to trust Andy because he knows that Andy will be bound by doctor-patient confidentiality. In addition to his history of abuse, Andy ends up knowing about Jude's ongoing self-harming behavior because Jude needs to seek treatment from him at regular intervals. With the exception of the period after his relationship with Caleb, Jude is usually not suicidal and wants to be able to recover from and hide his self-harming behavior. Andy protects both Jude's history and his ongoing self-harm because he wants to respect Jude's autonomy and need for privacy. Andy does not want to be one more person who betrayed Jude's trust. At the same time, Andy's willingness to protect his privacy allows Jude to avoid seeking psychological help and to cnotnue to behave in a self-destructive way.

At the end of the novel, what does Harold believe he has learned because of his relationship with Jude?

For almost thirty years, Harold loves Jude like his own child and does everything he can to help him. Still, Jude never fully opens up to him. Moreover, Jude commits suicide believing that he is a bad person who did not deserve to be loved. At the end of the novel, Harold's optimism is shaken, and he wonders whether he is a failure. Despite everything he did, he could not get Jude to feel truly loved. However, Harold clings to the hope that kindness still matters, and he never regrets the love he showed to Jude. Harold has known a lot of loss in his life, first with the death of his young son, and then with Jude's suicide. Although he does not know if any of this suffering has meaning, he does know that it has made him a more compassionate person.