One man's wallet is another man's moral dilemma

In my opinion, one of the best displays of Jason's character was in the "Goose Fair" chapter near the end of the book. Although there were many times throughout the book that Jason was given the chance to showcase his rationalization and decision-making skills, I like this one the best because Ross, his oppressor, was essentially brought down to a vulnerable state--making the playing field more even. 

At first, when Jason finds the wallet, it seems somewhat like a dream come true: Not only does he now have enough money to fix his grandfather's watch, he also has the perfect way to hurt Ross without risking any confrontation. He's so committed to this perfect plan that he buys snacks for Moran and his sister with the money. 

It is only in his encounter with his own father that Jason has a change of heart. Considering how abusive Ross's father is caused Jason to feel more sympathetic towards him and guilty about his own actions. Overall, I think Jason made the right decision. However, I think it's also important to note that Ross has never given Jason the same courtesy and I find it honorable the way he treated Ross when the roles were essentially reversed. After realizing the pain that Ross would have to endure, it didn't seem like Jason had to think twice before deciding not to keep the wallet. In the end, Ross did not have a good day that day anyway. Is that Karma? We'll never know. But I think the big takeaway from this scene is that Jason will put others before himself, even when the same people would do the complete opposite by him.

Comments

  1. Joanna's BlogMay 19, 2021 at 9:51 AM

    I agree that Jason ultimately made the mature choice, even though taking Ross' wallet would have been a great opportunity for revenge. However, I think that Jason also understood what made Ross into the person he is, and that stealing the wallet might enrage him even more.

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