When you finished the end of "A Chance for Mr. Lever," were you satisfied with the overall direction and resolution? Was this really a chance for Mr. Lever? Why or why not?
Good question, Shanxi. As the last paragraph in the story notes, "there are two opinions about everything," but I'd have to say no, I don't see that this was really a chance for him. The venture seemed like a desperate shot in the dark, and his fate seemed to swallow him more and more completely the deeper he went into the jungle.
Yes, I thought the phrase "his inevitable ruin" was quite apt in this context. It wasn't like the jiggers that you could avoid by wearing shoes; how could you avoid mosquitos?
I thought (and you may disagree with this) maybe the "chance" was the decision to keep with conventionality and the "don't forget that stout and milk" niceties or to disavow all morality and conformity to social norms, which he ultimately chooses.
I wondered if the "chance" in the title might also refer to the chance (i.e. risk) Mr. Lever took in pursuing this trip, or the chance occurrence of the mosquito.
Good question, Shanxi. As the last paragraph in the story notes, "there are two opinions about everything," but I'd have to say no, I don't see that this was really a chance for him. The venture seemed like a desperate shot in the dark, and his fate seemed to swallow him more and more completely the deeper he went into the jungle.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought the phrase "his inevitable ruin" was quite apt in this context. It wasn't like the jiggers that you could avoid by wearing shoes; how could you avoid mosquitos?
ReplyDeleteI thought (and you may disagree with this) maybe the "chance" was the decision to keep with conventionality and the "don't forget that stout and milk" niceties or to disavow all morality and conformity to social norms, which he ultimately chooses.
Poor Mr. Lever. I did feel sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteI wondered if the "chance" in the title might also refer to the chance (i.e. risk) Mr. Lever took in pursuing this trip, or the chance occurrence of the mosquito.