Should Kitsy have told?

Use this forum to discuss the October Book of the Month "McDowell" by William H. Coles.
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Dael Reader
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Re: Should Kitsy have told?

Post by Dael Reader »

jgraney8 wrote: 15 Oct 2018, 18:35
Dael Reader wrote: 09 Oct 2018, 20:09 Yes, she did the right thing by alerting the authorities. McDowell was an escaped convicted felon. Failing to alert the authorities would essentially be aiding and abetting. And since she didn't know exactly what he was convicted for, she smartly alerted the authorities, rather than taking the risk of turning a blind eye to the presence of a potentially dangerous criminal. She had no way of knowing what he was truly capable of or what he might have done next.
I wanted to disagree with this opinion until I thought about it. She didn't know what he had done. Perhaps he was a serial killer. I thought the way he was killed was the most unsatisfactory part of the novel. It seemed like the author took the easy way out.
Dael Reader wrote: I agree. I wanted to know what would happen if he got caught. Would those who now seemed to believe in his innocent come to his aid?
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Post by Manang Muyang »

I wouldn't be quick to judge her. An escaped convicted murderer would be scary. Her action also paved the way for McDowell's redemption and Sophie's liberation. Had this been a true story, McDowell would have been grateful in the afterlife. Maybe he also wanted to rest; he could have run like before.
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Post by Mary WhiteFace »

I don't believe she should have turned him in until she found out that facts of Hiram's case. His case had special circumstances that were doubtful to be repeated. She had nothing to fear from him.

I'm not saying I approve of what he did. I'm just saying that she should have looked up the details first. Even though it was labeled as such, he was not a straight murderer.
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Post by kdstrack »

She did the right thing. If Hiram had really changed, wouldn't he have been willing to turn himself in? If the same law doesn't apply to everyone, we devolve into chaos.
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Post by P Reefer »

It was so disappointing that Kitsy who instinctively felt that this was a good and harmless soul was the one who called the authorities for him.
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Post by Moddesser Elahi »

Kitsy did not tell about McDowell to the authority intentionally. But sometimes you cannot help and as per the story Kitsy does not seem to have done anything wrong in telling about McDowell.
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Post by Jmteachmom »

I think Kitsy told before she knew McDowell was the person who saved her life. Yes he saved her but he was a convicted felon and fugitive. This is a situation where doing the right thing is difficult move to make.
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Post by Ashley Cremer »

I think that Kitsy always mistrusted McDowell but I thought that it was completely out of line for her to tell on him after he saved her life. The motto is "a life for a life" and I feel that she should have respected the fact that he saved her and she should have left him alone. If she had to tell for her own morals, she should have given him a fair warning and plenty of time to escape.
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Post by Charlyt »

I don't blame Kitsy for telling the authorities about Hiram. I think she was just following her instincts and probably thought she was protecting herself and her friend.
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Post by Onyinye Excel »

I don't blame Kitsy. Having a stranger in your life can be very alarming.Also, since she did not know McDonald's so well, I can give her the benefit of doubt.
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Post by P Reefer »

Kitsy was unaware that her life had been saved by McDowell. Had Kitsy known I think she most certainly would not have told.
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Post by sarahmarlowe »

Yes, even though I didn't want her to tell, I believe that Kitsy did the right thing. I had a flashback to The Fugitive when the injured prison guard is brought into the ER and alerts the police to Dr. Kimball. I wanted both patients to have a sense of loyalty to the person who saved them, but I understand that's a secret they couldn't keep.
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Post by asere_maryanne »

Though she did what was right, I think she should not have done so, maybe she would have waited to hear his side of the story first.
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Post by Radiant3 »

Kitsy did what she felt was right at the time, even though Hiram had saved her life.
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Post by HollandBlue »

kdstrack wrote: 18 Oct 2018, 20:53 She did the right thing. If Hiram had really changed, wouldn't he have been willing to turn himself in? If the same law doesn't apply to everyone, we devolve into chaos.
I think this is a good point. McDowell still had his own best interests at heart or he would have turned himself in.
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