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The Real Estate Agent/The Realtor
Jack is the younger policeman on the scene of the hostage drama. He works with his dad, Jim, and the two don’t get along well: Jack is efficient and believes in doing his job correctly, while Jim takes a more relaxed view. Despite their fraught relationship, though, Jack has refused jobs in Stockholm in favor of sticking close to his dad. Ten years before the novel begins, teenage Jack unsuccessfully tried to talk a man out of jumping off a bridge—and a week later, he saved Nadia from doing the same thing. Saving Nadia inspired him to become a police officer; he believes his work will allow him to save people. This desire to save people motivates Jack to put his all into the hostage drama, especially after its conclusion, when it looks (to an outside observer) like the robber (whom Jack believes is male) shot himself and is injured and hiding. But when Jim reveals to Jack that he helped the robber escape, Jack demonstrates what a “good son” he is by taking responsibility for losing the robber. Later in the spring, Zara sends Jack a letter directing him to Nadia. It’s implied that Jack and Nadia fall in love once they become aware of their past connection.
Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy Quotes in Anxious People
The Anxious People quotes below are all either spoken by Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy or refer to Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
So you would have tried to talk to him, gain his trust, persuade him not to do it. Because you’ve probably been depressed yourself, you’ve had days when you’ve been in terrible pain in places that don’t show up in X-rays, when you can’t find the words to explain it even to the people who love you. Deep down, […] a lot of us know that the difference between us and that man on the bridge is smaller than we might wish. Most adults have had a number of really bad moments, and of course not even fairly happy people manage to be happy the whole darn time. So you would have tried to save him. Because it’s possible to end your life by mistake, but you have to choose to jump.
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Chapter 10
Quotes
“Do you know what the worst thing about being a parent is? That you’re always judged by your worst moments. You can do a million things right, but if you do one single thing wrong you’re forever that parent who was checking his phone in the park when your child was hit in the head by a swing. We don’t take our eyes off them for days at a time, but then you read just one text message and it’s as if all your best moments never happened. No one goes to see a psychologist to talk about the times they weren’t hit in the head by a swing as a child. Parents are defined by their mistakes.”
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Chapter 62
Quotes
“I just said Knut was parking the car because I get lonely sometimes. And it feels better to pretend that he’s on his way. Especially at this time of year, he always used to like New Year, we used to stand at the kitchen window watching the fireworks. Well…we used to stand on the balcony for years…but I couldn’t bring myself to go out there after something that happened down on the bridge ten years ago. It’s a long story.”
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Chapter 67
Quotes
“You’re a good police officer, son,” Jim will say, looking down at the ground. He’ll want to add but an even better person, but won’t be able to bring himself to say it.
“You’re not always such a damn good police officer, Dad,” Jack will grin up at the clouds. He’ll want to add but I’ve learned everything else from you, but the words won’t quite come out.
They’ll go home. Watch television. Have a beer together.
That’s enough.
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Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy Quotes in Anxious People
The Anxious People quotes below are all either spoken by Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy or refer to Jack/The Young Policeman/The Boy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
So you would have tried to talk to him, gain his trust, persuade him not to do it. Because you’ve probably been depressed yourself, you’ve had days when you’ve been in terrible pain in places that don’t show up in X-rays, when you can’t find the words to explain it even to the people who love you. Deep down, […] a lot of us know that the difference between us and that man on the bridge is smaller than we might wish. Most adults have had a number of really bad moments, and of course not even fairly happy people manage to be happy the whole darn time. So you would have tried to save him. Because it’s possible to end your life by mistake, but you have to choose to jump.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10
Quotes
“Do you know what the worst thing about being a parent is? That you’re always judged by your worst moments. You can do a million things right, but if you do one single thing wrong you’re forever that parent who was checking his phone in the park when your child was hit in the head by a swing. We don’t take our eyes off them for days at a time, but then you read just one text message and it’s as if all your best moments never happened. No one goes to see a psychologist to talk about the times they weren’t hit in the head by a swing as a child. Parents are defined by their mistakes.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 62
Quotes
“I just said Knut was parking the car because I get lonely sometimes. And it feels better to pretend that he’s on his way. Especially at this time of year, he always used to like New Year, we used to stand at the kitchen window watching the fireworks. Well…we used to stand on the balcony for years…but I couldn’t bring myself to go out there after something that happened down on the bridge ten years ago. It’s a long story.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 67
Quotes
“You’re a good police officer, son,” Jim will say, looking down at the ground. He’ll want to add but an even better person, but won’t be able to bring himself to say it.
“You’re not always such a damn good police officer, Dad,” Jack will grin up at the clouds. He’ll want to add but I’ve learned everything else from you, but the words won’t quite come out.
They’ll go home. Watch television. Have a beer together.
That’s enough.
