Class Discussion, 3/18

Discussion Question #1

So, I’m fairly certain that Mr. Stevens, through the letters, has found out that Aunt Tabitha was the disowned daughter of the late Mr. Garie (the one Uncle John speaks about in chapter 9), and he’s obviously pissed that he missed out on whatever inheritance he might’ve gained from her death had she been in her father’s good graces. I don’t understand why he’s mad a Mr. Garie though. It’s hardly his fault that Tabitha was disowned; psychopaths be psychopaths, I guess

As to how this will all play out, I can’t say I have a very good idea since I’m usually really bad at guessing endings and plot twists, but I do think things are going to get worse before they get better (if they get better, that is.) I do, however, think that some kind of confrontation will happen between Mr. Stevens and Mr. Gaire. If said confrontation occurs before Garie finds out just how nefarious Stevens is, then I think he will be kind and gentlemanly, he might even offer Stevens some money. But in the much more likely event that the confrontation happens after Garie is made aware of Stevens sins, I think/hope that Garie tells him off, saying something along the lines of, “I’d much rather be married/related to the African Americans you find so disgusting than to white trash like you.” I don’t know, something like that but in old-timey speak and with more sass and possibly some insults that I would be loathe to say myself, but have no problem reading about when directed at garbage people.