Flea-Market vendors are frozen mid-haggle. Middle-aged women are frozen in the middle of their lives. The gavels of frozen judges are frozen between guilt and innocence. On the ground are the crystals of the frozen first breaths of babies, and those of the last gasps of the dying.
In "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," the imagery of freezing captures moments that signify the halting of time in various aspects of life. Vendors at a flea market, caught in the act of negotiation, symbolize the ongoing struggles and interactions of everyday life. Similarly, middle-aged women represent a stage of existence where choices weigh heavily, reflecting on the passage of time and the decisions made along the way.
The text also evokes the solemnity of justice, with judges suspended in their duties, torn between the complexities of guilt and innocence. This duality is mirrored in the profound moments surrounding life and death, where the first breaths of infants and the final gasps of the dying coexist. The author's use of "frozen" highlights the emotional weight carried in these pivotal moments, emphasizing their significance in the tapestry of life.