“I Brought You Flours”

1. “I Brought You Flours” The Challenge of Human Connection in Stranger Than Fiction

2. Claim In Stranger Than Fiction, Zach Helm challenges the existential belief that humans are fundamentally cut off from one another by suggesting that our isolation does not have to be permanent. Through the dramatic transformation of his protagonist’s character and vivid contrasts in setting, Foster argues that human isolation can be overcome when individuals allow themselves to live more fully by forming connections with others.

3. Beginning: Harold the Robot Argument 1: Harold is immediately established as an isolated, unfeeling individual through descriptions of his scheduled routine and images of his lifeless apartment.

4. Harold’s lonely, drab life: • “Every weekday for nine years, Harold Crick would brush each of his 32 teeth 76 times.” • Harold times coffee breaks and lunch breaks. • “Harold lived a life of solitude. He would walk home alone. He would eat alone….He would go to bed alone.” • His apartment is colorless, like Harold’s character, and lacks photographs or other personal objects.

5. Pivotal moment: Harold learns he will die and begins to reach out to others Argument 2: However, Harold begins to break free from his isolation, first, through his relationship with Anna Pascal.

6. Harold’s relationship with Anna: • He eats the chocolate chip cookies, a symbol of comfort and warmth, that Anna offers him: “Thank you for forcing me to eat them.” • He intentionally woos Anna: • “I brought you flours.” • “I want you.” • The song he sings to Anna has lyrics that portray intense personal connection: “Go the whole wide world, just to find her.”

7. Ripple effect: Harold forms connections with others Argument 3: Next, Harold’s metamorphosis is further developed through his budding friendship with a coworker.

8. Harold’s friendship with Dave • Harold moves in with Dave when his apartment is destroyed. When he takes Harold to the guest room, Dave says to him, “It will be nice having you around.” • Harold and Dave talk to each other about their dreams: Harold: If you knew you were going to die. Possibly soon. What would you do? Dave: Easy. I’d go to Space Camp….You’re never too old to go to Space Camp, dude.

9. New man, new surroundings Argument 4: Changes in Harold’s setting provide additional compelling evidence of his character growth.

10. Setting shifts from drab and colorless to warm and vibrant • Harold’s bland, lifeless apartment is destroyed by a wrecking crane, signifying an end to his previously lonely life. • Harold spends more and more time at Anna’s apartment, which, in contrast to Harold’s sterile home is full of color and personality.

11. End: Harold has changed into an entirely new man Argument 5: Harold’s transformation from isolated automaton to connected human being is complete when he demonstrates a clear awareness of others by saving a young boy who is about to be hit by a bus. Anna: You stepped in front of a bus to save a little boy? Harold: I didn’t have a choice. I had to.