Put yourself in Claire's shoes. How would it feel knowing that you've traded your life for someone else's? Would you feel guilty or fortunate, and why?

Put yourself in Claire's shoes. How would it feel knowing that you've traded your life for someone else's? Would you feel guilty or fortunate, and why?

I think I would feel guilty because I had, perhaps inadvertently caused another heartache or pain. Isn't there an old saying- better to face the demons you know than the ones you do not.

Both - fortunate to have escaped and given the opportunity to start my life over again. Guilty that the other person didn't have that same chance. But I also believe in fate and I think that would affect my feelings about the switch.

I agree that I would feel guilty, and I think most readers would agree that Claire felt that way. Perhaps Claire felt that since Eva had been killed, Claire had to make the most of the chance that was given her.

I must not be very empathetic because I think in Claire's shoes I would have been pretty happy to have switched places with Eva. I think I would have been more curious about Eva's life and would have worried less about taking her spot. Even knowing there were interested parties snooping around, I don't think I would have been all that worried.

In Claire's shoes, I would have wanted to switch places with just about anyone. Her guilt comes from the fact that Eva died in the crash (although there was a red herring of sorts when Claire was convinced she spotted Eva alive and well in the post crash crowd), not so much from having escaped her life with Rory. Claire was fortunate in the end to be able to build a new life in California, free from the abuse of her former life.

It began as an even swap. So well thought out - noone imagined that it wouldn't be successful.
Of course, feeling guilty is something that would come natural to the fortunate survivor.

The doctor told my husband that both I and my child might not survive. My husband didn't tell me that for a few months, and when he did, I felt weird. Why should I live? Why didn't I die? And I didn't trade my life for someone else's. I think the saving grace of the matter is that the exchange wasn't Claire's idea; she went along with it, but Eva was the instigator. Even then, the responsibility of the one who lived to use this life would be great.

I believe in fate - things happen for a reason. I would feel guilty but would also feel that there was a purpose in my life and I would work towards that. I would also feel very grateful that I lived and wouldn't want to waste my life.