1. With twelve years of school behind me (including kindergarden) I can indeed recall a few days where I have felt like an outcast. One of the biggest ones that stood out was from far in the past in roughly first grade. Since at that age everyone is trying to find a sense of belonging I was always trying to get more friends that would play with me. Although practically everyone was ignoring me and ended up just not doing anything with me. I can say I felt like an outcast because I did not understand why no one was willing to be around me. It was also a bit frustrating because everyone was acting rude, but the past is in the past and most of those people are not even here anymore.
2. A. I learned that not everything in the world is happy and fun. When Cal first started talking to Gretchen he found out that her life was extremely difficult due to her father.
B. I rediscovered compassion. Cal eventually takes it upon himself to help Gretchen get out of her misery.
C. I was surprised on how people were treating others. Cal was practically shocked and couldn't believe that the father of Gretchen could be so cruel.
D. I'm beginning to wonder what is truth. Without doubt Cal started questioning everything the longer he talked and got to know Gretchen.
E. I was disturbed at society. Cal was probably disturbed that the faculty in the school was not taking Gretchen seriously when she had stated numerous times that her father would beat her.
F. I was confused why a parent would act like that. Gretchen's father with his "protectiveness" ended up being an abusive individual, with slight pedophilia.
G. I was interested in solving the problem. Cal seeing Gretchen's pain took it upon himself to change it, even when it sent him into prison with a madman out to kill him.
3. If Gretchen was a close friend of mine and she came to me and told about her problems at home I would tell her to hang in there while I would go get help. The help that I would get would be the police and the Child Protection Service. The day of the police and child protective services arrival I would personally prevent Gretchen from going back home to her father and I would immediately hand her over to the authorities. This would be all on my own thinking and would not allow her to have a say in the matter because when one is raised in that type of setting then they would always be hesitant to speak out. Therefore I would expect her to simply allow it to happen so that she will be able to recover from the torture that she had and she can live her life in peace.
4. On page 65 Gretchen stated that "Sometimes I daydream about going to a dance". I find this significant because just like all human beings, Gretchen has her own aspirations in life. She wants to go to the dance, she wants to watch movies, and many other things that she would like to do but her father would never let her do. So she fantasizes about them hoping that one day she will be able to attend them.
5. When Cal works on setting up the trap to get Lutterman into jail I believe that it is the right thing to do. this is because Lutterman is a terrible person and has been abusing all his children even to the point of killing the offspring that they produce. I personally in that situation would indeed do the same as Cal to the best of my ability.
6. Gretchen and McClusky's dog have a very tragic thing in common, they are both abused. They are both beaten and are not allowed to have any interaction whatsoever with the outside world. If they do anything they are immediately harmed and are manipulated in that such manner.
7. A. Fighting against wrongdoing is one of the most popular themes that books, movies, and other types of media like to cover. Although this is the case the actuality of someone going out and facing wrongdoing head to head is still very low. Since many individuals seem to be egotistical they are too afraid to stand up for others because they themselves might be harmed. A means of self preservation is the best way to describe it. As sad as that is fighting against wrongdoing is something that everyone should take more seriously. This is because if every individual is fighting the wrongdoers then the world will ultimately be more peaceful and prosperous. It will also enable more individuals to enjoy life rather than live it in subject to the whims of an overbearing person.
B. In schools and society in general the "stupid and crazy" are heavily attacked with negativity because they are different. In a literal sense when a person has a disorder that prevents them from being normal the treatment that they get is simply unfair. They had no control over whether or not they had the disease or not and when they are treated badly there is no excuse for those who are doing the act. As for those who do not have defects and are still called crazy or stupid, the attackers do not take time to understand where the person is coming from and why they are the way they are. A great example is Gretchen, everyone at the school calls her weird and dumb but they all seem to refuse to even learn about her story. Once Cal actually did learn about her situation he saw her in a different light. If people took a moment to stop and listen to what the person is going through then they would in the end be less egotistical and more caring to others around them.
2. A. I learned that not everything in the world is happy and fun. When Cal first started talking to Gretchen he found out that her life was extremely difficult due to her father.
B. I rediscovered compassion. Cal eventually takes it upon himself to help Gretchen get out of her misery.
C. I was surprised on how people were treating others. Cal was practically shocked and couldn't believe that the father of Gretchen could be so cruel.
D. I'm beginning to wonder what is truth. Without doubt Cal started questioning everything the longer he talked and got to know Gretchen.
E. I was disturbed at society. Cal was probably disturbed that the faculty in the school was not taking Gretchen seriously when she had stated numerous times that her father would beat her.
F. I was confused why a parent would act like that. Gretchen's father with his "protectiveness" ended up being an abusive individual, with slight pedophilia.
G. I was interested in solving the problem. Cal seeing Gretchen's pain took it upon himself to change it, even when it sent him into prison with a madman out to kill him.
3. If Gretchen was a close friend of mine and she came to me and told about her problems at home I would tell her to hang in there while I would go get help. The help that I would get would be the police and the Child Protection Service. The day of the police and child protective services arrival I would personally prevent Gretchen from going back home to her father and I would immediately hand her over to the authorities. This would be all on my own thinking and would not allow her to have a say in the matter because when one is raised in that type of setting then they would always be hesitant to speak out. Therefore I would expect her to simply allow it to happen so that she will be able to recover from the torture that she had and she can live her life in peace.
4. On page 65 Gretchen stated that "Sometimes I daydream about going to a dance". I find this significant because just like all human beings, Gretchen has her own aspirations in life. She wants to go to the dance, she wants to watch movies, and many other things that she would like to do but her father would never let her do. So she fantasizes about them hoping that one day she will be able to attend them.
5. When Cal works on setting up the trap to get Lutterman into jail I believe that it is the right thing to do. this is because Lutterman is a terrible person and has been abusing all his children even to the point of killing the offspring that they produce. I personally in that situation would indeed do the same as Cal to the best of my ability.
6. Gretchen and McClusky's dog have a very tragic thing in common, they are both abused. They are both beaten and are not allowed to have any interaction whatsoever with the outside world. If they do anything they are immediately harmed and are manipulated in that such manner.
7. A. Fighting against wrongdoing is one of the most popular themes that books, movies, and other types of media like to cover. Although this is the case the actuality of someone going out and facing wrongdoing head to head is still very low. Since many individuals seem to be egotistical they are too afraid to stand up for others because they themselves might be harmed. A means of self preservation is the best way to describe it. As sad as that is fighting against wrongdoing is something that everyone should take more seriously. This is because if every individual is fighting the wrongdoers then the world will ultimately be more peaceful and prosperous. It will also enable more individuals to enjoy life rather than live it in subject to the whims of an overbearing person.
B. In schools and society in general the "stupid and crazy" are heavily attacked with negativity because they are different. In a literal sense when a person has a disorder that prevents them from being normal the treatment that they get is simply unfair. They had no control over whether or not they had the disease or not and when they are treated badly there is no excuse for those who are doing the act. As for those who do not have defects and are still called crazy or stupid, the attackers do not take time to understand where the person is coming from and why they are the way they are. A great example is Gretchen, everyone at the school calls her weird and dumb but they all seem to refuse to even learn about her story. Once Cal actually did learn about her situation he saw her in a different light. If people took a moment to stop and listen to what the person is going through then they would in the end be less egotistical and more caring to others around them.