There's one point in "Nineteen Minutes", by Jodi Picoult, where Lacy Houghton finds her husband visiting the graves of all the children that their son killed and putting a rose on each one. She realizes that he has been doing this every week instead of visiting their son in jail. This poses a tough ethical dilemma, should Louis be apologizing to the children that Peter killed? Or visiting Peter in jail? The circumstances change because they are family. So far in the book, it seems like Lacy has chosen to take Peter's side, feeling that it's mostly her fault and Peter's taking the blame for her. Louis also feels like it's his fault but also Peter's and is afraid to face Peter because he feels like his fears might be confirmed. He might find out that Peter blames him as much as he blames himself.
I'm excited for the big courtroom scene because I have a feeling that there'll be some emotions going. I really want to see what happens when Peter and Josie see each other. Everyone who knows Peter feels that it's their own fault. Peter himself thinks it's their fault too. Even the parents of the deceased blame both Peter and his parents. Nobody puts the blame solely on Peter, so maybe it's really not his fault. This book is full of ethical dilemmas and I have a feeling I haven't gotten to the bulk of them yet.
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. New York: Washington Square Press, 2007.
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5 comments:
Eliza,
I read this book and enjoyed it very much EXCEPT FOR THE ENDING ITS A TOTAL LET DOWN!!!!
but its very epic and has a TWIST TO THE ENDING!
Kelly
This books sounds really intense. There must be a ton of emotions flying around!
I think another question you could ask is whether he should be visiting the graves AND visiting Peter. I haven't read the book, so maybe it's a one or the other sort of deal.
If you haven't got to the bulk of the ethical dilemmas yet, good luck and brace yourself!
this book sounds intense but the question it brought up is more entertaining by far. Is an apology to a victim better than forgiveness for a killer? This is something i have to think about.
thanks for the deep question
Quinn
Yes it does sound like it is filled with many ethical dilemmas! It also sounds very interesting. I'm interested in it now.
Eliza,
This sounds like a really interesting, though it seems kind of morbid and depressing. That is quite the dilema that they have on their hands of going to visit their killer maniac son in jail or visiting his victims graves.
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