Developing Theme: First Quarter of Novel

synopsis:
     After Marina and Mr. Fox break the news of Anders' death to Karen, Anders' wife, Marina and Mr. Fox, go to dinner as a couple. Once at dinner they talk about Anders' death and how they both believe that it should not have happened. You learn that they both feel that in some way they are to blame and feel guilty. Mr fox feels guilty because he realizes that Anders was not the correct choice to retrieve Dr. Swenson to stop her research and return. Mr. Fox thinks he should have sent Marina because she knew Dr. Swenson, although barely, the better than anyone at Vogel because Dr. Swenson was her professor in college. Marina feels guilty because she feels that Karen blames her sense she was the one who uttered the words "Your husband is dead" to Karen. In this dialogue you also learn that the reason Anders was sent to retrieve Dr. Swenson  because she hadn't updated Vogel on the progress of her research in over two years, and Vogel has no idea as to whether the experimental drug which was scheduled to start trial phase in two months, even existed at this point. The drug was supposed to emulate the never ending menstruation observed in the women of an Amazonian tribe. This drug would allow women of any age to bare children. When Mr. Fox informs Marina that he thinks she should have been the one to go her guilt grows. Originally she refuses until at a later point until Karen calls Marina in the middle of the night to beg her to go because Karen believes her husband isn't dead. Marina's guilt coerces her to agree to go to the Amazon. Marina begins taking Lariam, a malaria drug, which gives her the same nightmare that she had when she took the drug as a child, before visiting her father in India. She dreams of walking through the street of India with her father. The crowds begin to grow and she is separated from her father. Marina then wakes screaming. This section ends with Marina getting on a plane to the Amazon to find Dr. Swenson for Vogel, and to retrieve Anders' body to give Karen the proof of her husband's death that Karen needs.

Theme Development:
     During this section Patchett focuses on different reactions to death. She focuses on the guilt, using Mr. Fox, and Marina, and she focuses on denial using Karen. Patchett communicates to the reader that guilt comes along with death because people naturally seek out things they could have done to prevent a death which naturally results in them blaming themselves. As a reader you understand that Marina feels guilty when Karen calls her in the middle of the night. Karen thinks,
          Karen would never speak to her again, that [Karen] would always blame her for bearing the           news. The fact that Karen chose her to call in the middle of the night felt something like                       forgiveness, and for that forgiveness she deeply grateful.(30)
You can understand that Marina feels guilty because she is grateful for her forgiveness. If she didn't feel guilty then why would she care whether or not Karen forgave her. Her relief is brief because Karen asks her to go to the Amazon to find her husband who Karen doesn't believe is dead.
     Mr. Fox feels directly responsible Anders' death because he knew all along Anders was the wrong choice, and the only reason he didn't send Marina was because they were dating. In their conversation over dinner Mr. Fox says to Marina,
          I should have sent you in the first place. You were the boards choice, and I made a case against      you. I told them I asked you, and you refused. It was selfish in my part. This time we've spent              together...(24)