White Teeth Chapter Summary

Words: 690
Pages: 3

FutureMouse: Archie’s son or something else?

In White Teeth, perhaps the most interesting chapters are those that cover the exposition of FutureMouse and how the choices Archie and Samad made in the past have repercussions in the present. In the ending, the reader is left with a dilemma, will Archie’s son, FutureMouse, be the new model for humanity or will Irie’s unconventional family unit fill this seat. One of the most intriguing questions here is why does Archie regard FutureMouse as his son. FutureMouse was not created by Archie, but they are still very closely related. Although there are many reasons that Archie regards FutureMouse as his offspring, the most important are how Archie brought about its creation, the features Archie sees in FutureMouse that remind him of himself, and the act he took to save the life of FutureMouse. In the beginning of the novel, the reader is led to believe that Archie killed Nazi Dr. Marc-Pierre Perret, better known as Dr. Sick (Smith 102). At the time, this may be regarded as insignificant, and just part of the story of why Samad and Archie are close friends despite their racial and religious differences. Later in the novel, however, it is revealed that Archie never killed Dr. Perret, and that Dr. Perret created an scientific institute in London. Marcus, the creator of FutureMouse,
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Perret and FutureMouse, something which many people would be unable to do (Smith 447-448). The question of whether or not someone will risk their lives for someone is something that is often asked and highly debated. Many parents will tell you that they would give their life to protect their child, and while Archie did not due this for Irie, he did it for FutureMouse, showing his love for FutureMouse as a child. Archie also shows a different opinion here than everyone else, not choosing to exploit or kill FutureMouse, but allow FutureMouse to make its own