P1 Smoke Symbolism in LWD by Paul O'Brien https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro Think - Write - What does "smoke" symbolize in our novel Long Way Down. Why do you believe this? What evidence can you cite? en-us 2021-09-26 22:37:29 UTC 2025-12-12 03:12:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Smoke Symbolism pobrien13 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775092570 THE ELEVATOR, 
a smoke box, 
gray and thick (149).

The elevator is ...... and it is filled with smoke making it....... Will ....
]]> 2021-09-28 15:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775092570 bryceikeda1_7 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775156392 "Smoke… like spirit can be thick but aint supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me.” Hes pondering why the smoke has kept him in the elevator so long, it also seems to be slowing time so the visitor in the elevator has time to talk to will before the next floor]]> 2021-09-28 15:53:32 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775156392 Smoke symbolism tiffanyplourd https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775156897 “Dani said, wiggling one from the box. You smoke? I asked. You shoot? she shot back, “
(141)
Both characters were doing stuff that they wouldn't normally do, this quote sounds as if Dani was calling Will out and basically letting him know of his double standards. 
]]> 2021-09-28 15:53:41 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775156897 Smoke Symbolism lukesonne https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775157758 “But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube.”

The smoke represents all the darkness and sadness in Will's life, and he is stuck with it.]]> 2021-09-28 15:53:56 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775157758 smoke stevenbiagioni https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775158006 Smoke   like spirit can be thick but ain’t supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me.

the smoke is holding back from something and won't let go but he is trying to force his way through.


]]> 2021-09-28 15:54:01 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775158006 reesemadamba https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775161417 "Thought when the doors opened the smoke would rush out. But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube." (pg 149)
Will is stuck in a hard decision, and he is feeling trapped.]]> 2021-09-28 15:55:03 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775161417 Smoke Symbolism leithpiazza https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775164745 “She fanned smoke from her face, thumbed to Buck who shook his head and blew vanishing halos." (pg.113)

She was upset at Buck for smoking in an elevator. But Buck didn't care and just kept smoking. This also means it was our second ghost in the smoke

]]> 2021-09-28 15:55:59 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775164745 smoke symbolism noellegivler https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775165628 "The elevator, a smoke box, gray and thick.” (page 143) 

smoke can start to get thick when it is contained in a small area.  It makes you feel small and claustrophobic.


]]> 2021-09-28 15:56:15 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775165628 Smoke Symbolism chasejackson2_9 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775166117 "Uncle Mark reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out two cigarettes. Great. More smoke." Page 178 (i think)

Uncle Mark is making his decision even harder. He is even more conflicted which is what the smoke shows is Will being conflicted with his decision. Uncle Mark is creating more smoke.
]]> 2021-09-28 15:56:23 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775166117 Smoke Symbolism giovaniroman https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169047 ”I fanned and coughed, swatting...choking on the invisible thick” pg. 151
this shows how overwhelming the smoke was to the point where Will was struggling to breathe. This represents the feeling of being trapped with no escape ]]> 2021-09-28 15:57:15 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169047 Smoke-like spirit can be thick but ain’t supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me. this shows how the smoke in the elevator represents the other people in it trying to hold him back and keep him from getting revenge (page 144) b4dc59a5be8a46b6af0a1120cfd6c4ac_110472_8 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169443 2021-09-28 15:57:22 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169443 Smoke Symbolism fernandogarcia40 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169870 "Dani said, wiggling one from the box. You smoke? I asked. You shoot she shot back"
 (141)
Resembles how they both are doing things out of the norm and making impulsive decisions and she is doing that in hopes that Will comes to a realization that what he is doing is wrong.



]]> 2021-09-28 15:57:30 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775169870 Symbolism of smoke antoniadelgado1 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775170145 "Smoke like spirit can be thick but ain’t supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me." (Reynolds 150)

The smoke is used as a personification to hold Will. Will is being trapped to make a difficult decision and the smoke is keeping Will from running out and forcing him to make a choice. ]]> 2021-09-28 15:57:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775170145 smoke victorduarte6 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775171046 "smoke like a spirit can be thick but ain't supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me" pg 144 in PDF Will is struggling and being held back and hes scared.]]> 2021-09-28 15:57:51 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775171046 Symbolism takeoellsworth9 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172162 ¨Ï joined in, fanning the smoke¨
¨This time, there was no smoke blocking the door.¨(Around pages 190-200), Both of these quotes tell us the smoke is actually all characters in the elevator can touch, which is interesting for evidence for symbolism, like how it can symbolise the cloudiness in Wills mind. ]]> 2021-09-28 15:58:13 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172162 Smoke Symbolism siennacalderon https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172772 "But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube." pg 149
The smoke represents how Will is stuck on a hard decision and is trapped in all his thoughts.]]> 2021-09-28 15:58:24 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172772 Smoke symbolism clairerosetti https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172875 "Smoke… like spirit can be thick but aint supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me.” The smoke represents the foggy mind that Will has with his future path. His mind is fogged with emotions that are overpowering his logic. He has become impulsive with his choices because of being so overwhelmed with the unknown.]]> 2021-09-28 15:58:26 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775172875 smoke symbolism alaynamontero1_7 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775174251 "Who wants to get on an elevator full of smoke? What if it wasn’t really full of smoke?"(pg.145) 

will hints at the fact that the smoke maybe actually isn't smoke at all and the real reason he choking on his breath is because he is nervous instead of it being from all the "smoke" in the air. ]]> 2021-09-28 15:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775174251 Smoke Symbolism louisolvera https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775174697 “Burning but not burning down. Still long. Fire. Smoke. But no ash.” pg.116

Buck was still smoking and his cig didn't run out, he just kept puffing.]]> 2021-09-28 15:59:00 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775174697 Smoke Symbolism https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775176894 "Thought when the doors opened the smoke would rush out. But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube." (pg 143 PDF)

Will is trapped in the elevator, like it is his own mind and heart, and the smoke is not flowing out meaning it could represent the suffocating and crushing grief and other negative feelings he feels. He keeps everything inside and it will only build until he eventually can't breathe anymore. That might be what the smoke represents: the suffocating way his feelings choke him, just like smoke. - Grace Magno]]> 2021-09-28 15:59:40 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775176894 Smoke Symbolism maxsimkravchuk https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775199702 "Smoke like spirit
can be thick but
ain’t supposed to be
nothing solid
enough to hold me." p.144

It says that smoke is holding Will back from doing revenge and he gets to speak to people that were part of his life.]]> 2021-09-28 16:06:51 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775199702 symbolism via smoke thomascrane2 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775228364       Smoke like spirit can be thick but ain’t supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me.

he uses smoke as symbolism to express how trapped will feels. so much so that it is a blanket a palpable thing, that he can touch and only barley move through.]]> 2021-09-28 16:16:01 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1775228364 smoke symbolism roccobastianelli9 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1776404370 "smoke like spirit can be thick but ain't supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me." p 144

The smoke is the thing that is holding will back from making the decision. So the smoking is forcing him to make a choice]]> 2021-09-29 01:23:51 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1776404370 Smoke miamedina11 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778450652 "Thought when the doors opened the smoke would rush out. But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube." (pg 143 )

Will is trapped in the elevator with the smoke and it relates to will being trapped in a difficult decision ]]> 2021-09-29 15:18:27 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778450652 "the elevator a smoke box gray and thick." pg 143. nathintaylor https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778461983 the smoke started to get thick because it was filling the elavator and got thucker just sitting there.

]]> 2021-09-29 15:21:19 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778461983 smoke symbolism madalyncerezo https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778472692 "smoke like spirit can be thick but ain't supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me." (pg 144) 

The smoke does not only represent the stress of the choice Will has to make, it also represents the "ghost" in the elevator. This quote is a way of Will saying that the "ghost" are having an overwhelming affect on him and his decision.


]]> 2021-09-29 15:24:12 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778472692 smoke symbolism https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778479685 smoke-like a spirit can be thick but aint supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me 

p144]]> 2021-09-29 15:26:10 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778479685 smoke symbolism kayleebayer https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778480320 "the elevator,
a smoke box,
grey and thick" pg 143

he was imagining smoke because he was confused and stuck on whether he should shoot or not, choking on his words or as he calls it "smoke"]]> 2021-09-29 15:26:21 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778480320 smoke symbolism guadalupelopezherre https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778499382 Smoke like spirit
can be thick but
ain’t supposed to be
nothing solid
enough to hold me.

I think deep down will knows he's struggling to get revenge, in this state the smoke is seen as personification by holding will back and keeping him trapped in his own sadness.]]> 2021-09-29 15:31:43 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1778499382 Smoke Symbolism ellarohwer https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1784487519 "Smoke like spirit
can be thick but
ain't supposed to be nothing solid
enough to hold me"
Will is struggling in attempting to get revenge and he doesn't know what to do, he uses smoke as an example that he is stuck in the smoke and doesn't know what to do next

]]> 2021-10-01 15:20:59 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1784487519 SMoke Symnbolism jasontahual https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1792175411 "the elevator, a smoke box, grey and thick" pg.143

I think he sees the smoke as a nonstopping cycle of how "beef", death and violence is passed down from generation to generation, ]]> 2021-10-05 07:42:57 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1792175411 https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1794410092 "Smoke… like spirit can be thick but ain't supposed to be nothing solid enough to hold me.” The smoke represents the foggy mind that Will has with his future. His mind is fogged with emotions such as hate or grief he doesnt relize or think anything in that moment of time. he is being blinded by what is true because all theese emotions are overwhelming him.]]> 2021-10-05 20:52:51 UTC https://padlet.com/pobrien13/u8ra0g4l9o35yxro/wish/1794410092