Should Jason have Kept Ross's Money?

    Should Jason have kept Ross Wilcox’s money? I think most people have a part of them that wished Jason would have kept the money in Ross’s wallet. Initially, it definitely would have felt better if Jason took it. Additionally, Ross is a bully who has caused problems for Jason, so it's justified right?

The whole situation in the chapter Goose Fair presents itself like a case, with Jason at the center of the dilemma. While Willcox and Jason sort of experience karma with Willcox losing his leg, the initial situation makes it a lot harder to pick a side. Willcox’s wallet has a substantial amount of money in it, enough to fix his grandfather’s watch which has been bothering Jason for a while, and what's notable is that Willcox doesn’t know Jason has his wallet. One could make the case that the money was never Ross’s to begin with, it was his dad’s. But Ross’s dad is also known for having bad temper and would beat Ross if he lost the money, and stealing the money would result in double punishment for Ross. Furthermore, there is some notion that this would make Ross even worse, as his dad’s negative actions would affect him to act negatively towards others too. While it does pay for Ross’s actions, it's not also entirely morally correct for Jason to steal so that he can cover up his own mistakes with the Omega Seamaster watch.


I think Jason develops a strong sense of justice and right and wrong in this chapter. At one point, he even refers to Ross as a “poor kid” and feels somewhat guilty. Plus, returning it puts Jason on a higher moral ground over Willcox which renders some of his bullying less effective. Ultimately universal karma gets to Ross even without Jason stealing his wallet, and everything mostly gets resolved. What do others think? Does Jaosn care too much about Ross? Should he have kept a portion of the money?

Comments

  1. David RMay 7, 2023 at 12:11 PM

    I think this is a question that a lot of people find interesting about this chapter. There is a serious dilemma in Jason's mind about whether or not to give the money back. Initially he actually is glad that it's his dad's money, because then Wilcox will be punished through him instead of Jason doing anything. He then changes his mind and gives it back. I agree that this gives Jason a sort of moral high ground over Wilcox in the future, whether or not he will admit it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KaraMay 17, 2023 at 7:56 AM

    Great post! Your blog really examines a lot of the morals of this chapter. Jason does develop a lot more morals after this story but I think what he ultimately does is right. If he would of stole the wallet, it would of been to cover up something for him and would be morally wrong. It would of caused more consequences for Ross as well since it was his dad's money. Ultimately I total agree with all the points you brought up in your blog post and think the development in Jason in this chapter is impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Olivia ThompsonMay 19, 2023 at 12:03 PM

    I definitely think Jason made the right decision giving back the wallet, and it especially shows the aspect of Jason's character development being a coming-of-age. Jason seems to understand that while bullying is very serious, the type of bullying that Ross would face from his father is a different level than what Jason experiences at school. I'm not defending Ross's actions or calling Jason's experience with bullying less serious than Ross and his father, but I am saying that giving back the wallet would directly save Ross from a very serious type of physical danger. The fact that Jason can understand this and put his own feelings behind him is proof of his growing up and understanding more adult issues.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maxwell HeMay 25, 2023 at 1:35 PM

    The whole Ross wallet situation has a lot of similarities to the 'advice' that Norman Bates gave to Jason at the end of Maggot about "slicing his tendons" (referring to Ross). In Goose Fair, Jason gets a chance to remotely 'slice Ross's tendons,' beating him to a pulp via Ross's dad. Of course, the biggest difference in this one is that Jason can do the less violent thing in Maggot via inaction, but Jason must do an action to prevent violence in Goose Fair. Plus, the side consequence in Maggot is getting sent to Borstal, while the side consequence in Goose Fair is getting a whole lot of cash. This factor makes the Goose Fair episode very important in cementing Jason's moral outlook of NOT CRIPPLING PEOPLE HE DOESN"T LIKE (ON PURPOSE). because it's the one that Maggot (the voice, not the chapter) resists doing. Being able to fight Maggot and win is pretty significant.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Expectations in the Bell Jar

 I think a common idea In Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar is that of expectation. Esther is constantly expected to follow both societal norms and the expectations of the people around her. She is unable to find her own path in life leading to her downward spiraling situation, trapped underneath the bell jar.  Esther Greenwood's mother plays a significant role in trapping her daughter with her expectations. Mrs. Greenwood has a predetermined image of what Esther should be, well educated, refined and virgin, ideas that align with what society expects. She pushes Esther to study, participate in extracurricular activities and maintain her appearance. Initially, Esther attempts and accomplishes her mothers goals, being a high achieving student with a scholarship and attending a writing club, but is eventually overwhelmed by the pressure to live up to her mother's standards. By following her mothers expectations, she feels like she is losing her sense of self in the process, an
Read more

Holden Caufield’s obsession with childhood

The Catcher in the Rye protagonist Holden Caulfield is obsessed with the idea of childhood. Throughout the novel he idolizes childhood. He longs for a time when life was innocent and easier. To Holden, childhood not only represents innocence, but also his fear and resistance to come of age and become an adult. Holden’s obsession with childhood can often be seen in his interactions with Phoebe, his younger sister. Even before meeting Phoebe, she is described as an authentic and a truly real person in Holden’s pessimistic view of superficiality in the world. To him, she represents the embodiment of childhood innocence and purity and someone who truly understands his struggles. Though despite being younger than Holden, she is more mature in some ways. After Holden sneaks into his home to meet her, she is upset with him and understands the necessity of maturing, answering critically to Holden's story. In some ways, Holden’s immaturity and inability to deal with the situation makes him
Read more