Question about "Little again"

[Luftwaffles]

Ok, so when Eli tells Oskar about sleeping for months on end and waking up "little again" and that's when "I need help" -what exactly does that encompass? And....it's a sad thought, but what about Oskar? Since he becomes infected in LTODD what happens when they wake up? Assuming it's the same time/"alive" the same time? That was kinda the only +plus for having a 40 year old Oskar scenario, but I still wondered

[Ash]

I've included that bit below. I think Eli means that he is so weak when he wakes up, he needs someone there to help him, perhaps get him food.

"Yes. But... when I say sleep I mean that there are months at a time when I don't... get up at all. And then a few months when I. . . live. But then I rest during the daytime."
"Is that how it works?"
"I don't know. That's how it is with me at any rate. And then when I wake up I'm ... little again. And weak. That's when I need help."

[Luftwaffles]

I've included that bit below. I think Eli means that he is so weak when he wakes up, he needs someone there to help him, perhaps get him food.

"Yes. But... when I say sleep I mean that there are months at a time when I don't... get up at all. And then a few months when I. . . live. But then I rest during the daytime."
"Is that how it works?"
"I don't know. That's how it is with me at any rate. And then when I wake up I'm ... little again. And weak. That's when I need help."

I just wonder what the implications for Oskar are? If they are both weak? I like to think that maybe they just store it for winter : )

[a_contemplative_life]

This is one of the major ambiguities in the novel and has provided much food for thought for the FF people. To me it ties into Hakan's inner monologue when he is trudging off to find a victim; there was a past time when Eli was so weak, she would have died without the blood he brought to her.

[ofelia]

I think that maybe Oskar and Eli would be strong enough together even though they would be 'little again' waking up. And for me I thought of it as Eli being a sort of hibernating creature... it takes him a while to get back to strength after sleeping so long. I didn't see it as a physical change, just having less supernatural strength and more like the physical capability of an actual child.

[Nightrider]

This whole "Little again" quote once again(for me at least) underlines the uncertainty of O & E's fate...This is a glimplse into one possible outcome of their relationship after the train pulls away at the end of the novel. Their future is unwritten (untill LTODD came out, that is) and it's not a completely happy ending. They may survive or not, Oskar may get turned or not, he may become a new Hakan...or not.
That's what I loved about the book's ending. Not knowing.

[Luftwaffles]

I think that maybe Oskar and Eli would be strong enough together even though they would be 'little again' waking up. And for me I thought of it as Eli being a sort of hibernating creature... it takes him a while to get back to strength after sleeping so long. I didn't see it as a physical change, just having less supernatural strength and more like the physical capability of an actual child.

Yeah I kind of imagine that, too. As long as they're together

[metoo]

I think that maybe Oskar and Eli would be strong enough together even though they would be 'little again' waking up. And for me I thought of it as Eli being a sort of hibernating creature... it takes him a while to get back to strength after sleeping so long. I didn't see it as a physical change, just having less supernatural strength and more like the physical capability of an actual child.

Yeah I kind of imagine that, too. As long as they're together

I agree as well, after waking from hibernation Eli is just too weak to procure blood, i.e. he has the strength of a normal child, maybe a weak one, but he is able to walk around etc.

Eli proposed to Oskar to become like him. Like I have said before, I think this wasn't something that came out of the blue, but that Eli had considered it for a while, but hadn't dared to ask before. Thus, it suggests to me that Eli believed they would be able to survive without helpers, if they were together. This must have included ways to cope with hibernation, which Eli does half of his time. I have a hard time thinking Eli would have turned Oskar just to give him a life in loneliness while Eli hibernated, and vice-versa. Eli must have thought about this, and have had a solution, unknown to us.

[Wolfchild]

Eli proposed to Oskar to become like him. Like I have said before, I think this wasn't something that came out of the blue, but that Eli had considered it for a while, but hadn't dared to ask before.

I think I disagree with this. From the context of what was going on when Eli made his offer, I don't think that what was on his mind was to bind Oskar to him:

They lay in bed together, held each other. Oskar told him what had happened in the subway. Eli said:
"I'm sorry. About starting this."
"No, it's alright."
Silence. For a long time. Then Eli asked, hesitantly:
"Would you want to ... become like me?"
"... no. I would like to be with you, but..."
"No, of course you don't. I understand."

Oskar had just told Eli about the latest bit of bullying and Jonny's threat. Since Lacke had shown up, Eli knows that he must leave almost immediately. He is the one who urged Oskar to hit back, and then offered him help if needed. Eli feels like he got Oskar into a mess and now he is going to have to bail on him. I believe that Eli is simply thinking that if Oskar were infected, then he wouldn't have to worry about Jonny. He would be strong. There is no hint from JAL that Eli had planned it. By putting the offer in the context of a conversation about Oskar not being rid of the bullying, Eli's offer would seem to just be a response to that topic.

Really, I don't think there is ever a time in the novel where Eli employs guile on Oskar. He apparently told him at least one lie (about an "aunt she had in the city where she went after school"), but I don't think there was an occasion when Eli tried to manipulate Oskar. I think I tend to believe Eli when he said:

"Will I get... infected?"
Still looking down at the monster on her T-shirt, Eli shook her head. "I don't want to infect anyone. Least of all you."

Eli's later offer to Oskar was not at all selfish. He was just thinking out loud about a way to help Oskar after he had fled Blackeberg. I've got Eli's back on this one.

[a_contemplative_life]

I favor Wolf's interpretation, mainly because I hate the idea of Eli trying to manipulate Oskar. Love is looking out for the best interests of the beloved, putting their interests ahead of your own. I think Eli wanted to do this for Oskar. It is the essence of what it means to be human.