Don't read this question set (or answer it) until after you've read Chapter Thirty-Two. Spoilers ahead!
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| A white “ghost bike” placed near the spot where cyclist Doan Bui was struck and killed by an alleged drunken driver. Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe |
When Frankie goes to Bill Brightman's house to apologize for almost killing him, he does not offer her forgiveness or empathy. Do you think he should have? Even if he didn't "owe" her that, would it have been the right thing to do?
No, I don’t think he should have. Bill knows almost nothing about Frankie besides the fact that she almost ended his life. Even though she was having a hard time, she almost killed him because she chose to drive drunk. He doesn’t have to forgive her just because she apologized. The only “right” thing to do would be to thank her for her apology. Other than that, he owes her nothing.
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not believe he should have offered her anything that is not real. If he truly did not feel empathy for her and had not forgiven her then it was not the right thing to do. If he were to have said that all is well just so Frankie might gain a small amount of relief from her guilt all he would be doing is granting her pardon from a mistake that she needs to gain for herself through time and healing of her own. He does not owe her anything and that includes him being honest about how he feels after she almost kills him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he owed Frankie his forgiveness. She was not in the right headspace and decided to drive under the influence, which almost took the life of Bill. While it was good on Frankie's part to apologize to him, he didn't owe it to her to accept it. If anything, I think it was a good thing not to accept it because I feel as though it would have enabled Frankie, and while she was sorry for what she did, I believe it was a strong reminder of what harmful actions like that can do to those around.
ReplyDeleteI believe he has the right not to forgive her, and he shouldn't pretend to if he doesn't mean it.
ReplyDeleteForgiving someone just to make them feel better doesn't seem right if you haven't truly forgiven them. She did a horrible thing that could have not only cost his life but also his family’s well-being. I think he did the right thing and held her accountable for her actions. Now I also think he could have been kinder in their conversation, but yet again, he doesn't owe her his kindness.
I do not think Bill Brightman owed Frankie forgiveness or empathy. Forgiveness is not something you are owed; it is not a right. You can try to earn someone's forgiveness through your actions, but it is not something you get to determine. Frankie chose to drive drunk, even if she was having a tough time, her actions still almost killed Bill. I do not think forgiving Frankie would have been the ‘right’ thing to do. By forgiving a person you are essentially letting go of the problem, often times making the offending person feel better. In this case Frankie’s actions were severe and I think forgiveness might have lessened the negative effects on her.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn’t really owe her anything actually. Why should he offer sympathy to a woman who nearly ended his life? Especially a woman he’s never met in his life aside from the time where she almost killed him because she was being reckless. I don’t really think there’s a “right” decision that can be made here since he’s justified in how he feels.
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