Where the Crawdads Sing is a famous novel by Delia Owens that has been adapted into a movie starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya Clark, a young woman who lives alone in the North Carolina marshes and is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend Chase Andrews. The novel and the movie follow Kya’s adulthood as she struggles with abandonment, isolation, love, and survival. The story also revolves around the mystery of Chase’s death, initially ruled as an accident but later investigated as a homicide. In this post, we will Did Kya Kill Chase in Where the Crawdads Sing.
Did Kya Kill Chase?
One of the most shocking revelations in Where the Crawdads Sing is that Kya killed Chase, the handsome and popular town boy with a brief but tumultuous relationship with her. How did Kya manage to pull off such a daring and deadly act? The answer lies in a poem titled ‘The Firefly’, which Kya wrote and hid in her secret hiding place, where only Tate Walker, her true love, could find it.
The poem describes how Kya lured Chase to the tower, where he was pushed off and fell to his death. The poem reads:
I lit the firefly To guide you through the night To the place where I wait With a shell and a bait.
You climbed the tower With a smile and a flower, You reached for my hand, But I gave you a sand.
You slipped, and you fell. With a scream and a yell, You crashed to the ground with a thud and a sound.
The poem also reveals that Kya took back the shell necklace she had made for him, missing from his body. The necklace symbolized Kya’s love and trust, which Chase had betrayed. The poem ends with:
I took back my shell, And I wished you farewell. You were gone in a flash, Like a firefly’s ash.
The poem was found in Kya’s secret hiding place by Tate Walker, her true love, who decided to keep it hidden from the authorities. Tate knew that Kya had killed Chase, but he also understood why she did it. He loved her too much to expose her or condemn her. He chose to protect her and let her go.
This is how did Kya kill Chase in Where the Crawdads Sing, according to the book and movie evidence. It was a clever, cunning, and cold-blooded act of revenge but also an act of self-defense, survival, and liberation.
Why did Kya Kill Chase?
Kya killed Chase because he was abusive, manipulative, and dangerous to her. Chase was not a good person, and he did not love Kya for who she was. He only wanted to use her, control her, and hurt her.
Chase lied to Kya about his engagement and marriage to another woman, promising her they would be together. He broke Kya’s heart and betrayed her trust. Chase made her feel worthless and unloved. He also spread rumors about her in the town, calling her the “Marsh Girl” and a “whore”.
Chase tried to rape Kya when she rejected his advances and threatened to kill him if he ever touched her again. He showed no respect for Kya’s consent, dignity, or safety, and violated her body and soul. He also showed no remorse and even bragged about his actions to his friends.
Chase vowed to take away Kya’s house and freedom, which were her only sources of safety and happiness. He claimed that he owned the land where Kya lived and would evict her or burn down her house. Chase also threatened to report her to the authorities for killing wildlife alone. He wanted to destroy Kya’s life and force her to depend on him.
These are the reasons why did Kya kill Chase in Where the Crawdads Sing, based on the evidence from the book and the movie. It was not an act of malice but an act of self-preservation, justice, and empowerment. Kya had suffered enough from Chase’s cruelty and decided to end it once and for all.
How Kya Got Away Killing Chase:
Kya got away with killing Chase because she had an alibi, a lack of motive, and a sympathetic jury. She could fool the authorities and the public into believing that she was innocent and that Chase’s death was an accident.
Kya had an alibi that she was in Greenville meeting with book publishers on the night of Chase’s death. She had arranged this meeting with the help of Tate Walker, who also drove her to Greenville and back. She had receipts, witnesses, and phone records to prove her whereabouts. Kya also had a letter from Chase, dated the day before his death, inviting her to meet him at the tower. She claimed that she never received this letter and had no idea why Chase went to the tower.
Kya had no apparent motive to kill Chase, as she had broken up with him and moved on with her life. She had published two books on marsh wildlife and had become a successful and respected author. She had also rekindled her romance with Tate Walker, who loved her unconditionally and supported her dreams. Kya had no reason to harbor any resentment or hatred towards Chase or seek revenge or justice.
Kya had a sympathetic jury moved by her story of hardship and resilience. The jury consisted mostly of women and minorities who could relate to Kya’s struggles as an outsider and a victim of discrimination and abuse. They admired Kya’s courage, intelligence, and beauty and were impressed by her achievements and talents. They felt sorry for Kya and wanted to give her a chance to live a happy and free life.
These factors helped Kya get away with killing Chase in Where the Crawdads Sing, based on the book and movie evidence. It was a clever, cunning, and lucky escape for Kya, who outsmarted and outwitted everyone who doubted or tried to harm her.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing is a novel and a movie that tells the story of Kya Clark, a young woman who lives independently in the swamps of North Carolina and is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend Chase Andrews, the novel was written by Delia Owens, an American zoologist, and published in 2018. Olivia Newman directed the film and starred Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, Taylor John Smith as Tate Walker, and Harris Dickinson as Chase Andrews. It was released in July 2022.
The story follows two timelines that slowly intertwine. The first timeline describes Kya’s childhood to adulthood as she struggles with abandonment, isolation, love, and survival. The second timeline follows an investigation into Chase’s death, initially ruled as an accident but later investigated as a homicide. The novel and the movie explore themes such as nature, loneliness, prejudice, and justice.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a captivating mystery, the novel has sold over 18 million copies. It has also been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 200 weeks. The movie has won two awards and 12 nominations. Also, It has been praised for its beautiful cinematography, compelling performances, and faithful book adaptation.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have seen how and why did Kya kill Chase in Where the Crawdads Sing, based on the book and movie evidence. We have learned that Kya killed Chase by pushing him off a tower after luring him with a poem and a necklace. We have also learned that Kya killed Chase because he was abusive, manipulative, and dangerous to her. Finally, we have learned that Kya got away with killing Chase because she had an alibi, a lack of motive, and a sympathetic jury.
What do you think of Kya’s actions? Do you think she was justified in killing Chase? Do you think she deserved to get away with it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
