Skip to main content

In Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, do you believe Max’s dad when he says, “I know what they told you. It’s all a big lie, you...

Right before Max is kidnapped by his father, Killer Kane says the following to his son on Christmas Eve:


“I know what they told you. It’s all a big lie, you understand? I never killed anybody, and that’s the truth, so help me God” (101).


There is certainly an element of hope behind hearing these words. Many convicts say that they are innocent, but the evidence says otherwise. For children like Max, who must endure...

Right before Max is kidnapped by his father, Killer Kane says the following to his son on Christmas Eve:



“I know what they told you. It’s all a big lie, you understand? I never killed anybody, and that’s the truth, so help me God” (101).



There is certainly an element of hope behind hearing these words. Many convicts say that they are innocent, but the evidence says otherwise. For children like Max, who must endure life without parents because of incarceration, it would be very tempting to want to believe that his father is not guilty. There are so many red flags, though, that point to the fact that Killer Kane isn't telling the truth. First, there's the name, "Killer Kane." People don't get nicknames like that for no reason. Second, he's been in jail for at least ten years which means that he was convicted of the crime they say he committed. Just because he claims it isn't true does not take away the fact that a jury must have found him guilty, which is valid evidence that he did kill someone. Finally, he's in the act of committing a crime by kidnapping his own son out of bed in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. Good guys and heroes don't need to use the back door to get what they want; bad guys do that. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more