3931. So it
happened that on the evening of the birthday party, Emily, who was confined to
her room because of her crime, was extremely upset and crying. The Tutor tried
to comfort her, but she was in a dilemma. What should she have said to comfort
her charge, and how do you imagine a person in her position should have handled
the situation?
3932. I am
going to say right out that I think Emily was justified in stabbing her brother
with her little calligraphy pen, and I say it without compunction. I would have
been content if she had punctured his arm twice, even three times! But not four, to four I would not go.
Four creates an image of some sort of crazy mayhem all out of proportion to the
situation.
3933. On second
thought I have to go back and say that one stab is understandable, and two would
cross some invisible line we all know about. However, even though I sympathize
with the criminal, I would not have been able to bring myself to congratulate
her, or praise her action. Just like you, I would confine myself to that kind
of very mild reproach couched in sympathetic tones.
3934. Mild
reproach, couched in sympathetic tones so familiar to children, coming out of
the mouths of their parents, who have long ago forgotten what it means to feel
life passionately, and express their feelings forcefully.
No comments:
Post a Comment