Skip to main content

In Freak the Mighty, what does the cop say that alludes to the fact that Max's dad is in prison?

In chapter seven, Max and Kevin join forces to escape the attack of Tony D. and his gang. With Kevin on Max's shoulders, Kevin does the thinking and directing while Max does the running. They end up running into the pond to get away from Tony's blade, but then the bullies start throwing rocks at the boys. Fortunately, Kevin can whistle loud enough to attract the attention of a cop car. The cop car shines...

In chapter seven, Max and Kevin join forces to escape the attack of Tony D. and his gang. With Kevin on Max's shoulders, Kevin does the thinking and directing while Max does the running. They end up running into the pond to get away from Tony's blade, but then the bullies start throwing rocks at the boys. Fortunately, Kevin can whistle loud enough to attract the attention of a cop car. The cop car shines a bright spotlight over the pond and discovers the boys. Eventually, the cops get ropes to assist in recovering the boys from the pond. The boys are given blankets and Cokes while also being told that they will keep an eye out for Tony D.--not to worry. Then, one of the cops asks for the boys' names so they can start calling mothers. When Maxwell tells them his name, one cop says the following:



"Hey, isn't that Kenny Kane's boy? Must be. Old Killer Kane, is he still inside?" (39).



There are two things that the cop says that help a reader infer that Killer Kane is in prison. First, the reference to the name "Killer Kane" references what Max's dad is accused of doing--killing someone. Then, the cops says "still inside," which can be inferred as meaning that Kane is still in prison. At this point in the book, the readers don't know much about Max's parents other than the fact that his mother had died. What the cop says not only gives information into the status of Max's father, but it is also a little bit of a foreshadowing that Killer Kane will be in the story at a future time. If Kane were not to be mentioned further in the story, then there wouldn't be much reason to mention him now; so, the reader's mind is primed for future events surrounding Killer Kane.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

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