Childlike- Usually childlike is used in a positive way, but Powers is childlike in the sense that he lacks foresight, perspective, and a grip on reality. He thinks only of the present. In jail, he forgets that he is about to be executed because people are smiling at him. He is completely self-involved, like a two-year-old who wants a toy, but since he’s physically a grown man, he demands sex instead.<\/p>\n
Pilfering-\u00c2\u00a0 Powers describes his stealing as pilfering, which seems like a good word for it because he is destructive when he steals.\u00c2\u00a0 Unlike Mountain’s planned thefts, he just impulsively decides to take things.\u00c2\u00a0 He is the classic brutish figure who rapes and pilfers.<\/p>\n
Blame-\u00c2\u00a0 Powers’ childishness is evident again when he blames his later crimes on an overly lenient punishment from his master for stealing.\u00c2\u00a0 He says “If I had received my just deserts I might possibly have escaped the fate which now awaits me.”\u00c2\u00a0 This seems unlikely because he is so wrapped up in moment-to-moment existence that it does not seem like he’d remember or focus on an earlier punishment.\u00c2\u00a0 It seems more likely that, after his death sentence, if he were to be released, he’d commence his life of crime again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Childlike- Usually childlike is used in a positive way, but Powers is childlike in the sense that he lacks foresight, perspective, and a grip on reality. He thinks only of the present. In jail, he forgets that he is about … Continue reading