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The Secret Keeper


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Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Created: 07/09/13

Replies: 11

Posted Jul. 09, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Once you understood Dorothy's reasons for committing that violent action at the end of chapter one, did you find any moral ambiguity in her behavior? Did she really have a choice?


Posted Jul. 14, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Absolutely, I found moral ambiguity. There were some moments where I disliked her - I guess that is good writing to stir up an emotional reaction in the reader.


Posted Jul. 14, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianac

Join Date: 04/02/13

Posts: 91

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Not at all. What you saw with her was essentially what she was.


Posted Jul. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Once the story completely unfolded, I I felt moral issues were resolved, , but the tension created by the story as it developed certainly raised lots of moral issues. along the way.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandrah

Join Date: 07/18/11

Posts: 68

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

The reader can see it but Dorothy/Dolly cannot. She is a selfish person.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Navy Mom

Join Date: 04/12/12

Posts: 294

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

I disliked the young Dolly as the book moved on. At first I thought she treated her mistress well, but when her motive was to inherit her money I disliked her. I did not think she was good for Jimmy. I think she lacked moral integrity from the beginning. The Vivien-Dorothy did have moral ambiguity in that she just killed with no forethought. I didn't see how she could do that, especially after all the time that had passed.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

I understand that Dorothy was trying to protect herself and her family, but she still committed murder. There were other ways to handle the situation than immediately murdering someone. I don't think the morality was particularly ambiguous; it was murder.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bettyt

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 228

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Yes, there was moral ambiguity but I'm not sure she had a choice. Not only was Henry a danger to her and perhaps her children, but he also would have revealed who she really was. The book was written in such a way to make you dislike Vivien until you saw her from another viewpoint. For example, the day Dorothy was returning the necklace. Dorothy described Vivien as snobbish, not acknowledging her, and then probably coming to tell her employer that she stole the necklace. Then we hear a totally different account of what happened from Vivien.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joycew

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 107

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Yes, there was ambiguity; but things are complicated and you have to make some decisions very quickly without time to assess the possibilities.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sallyh

Join Date: 09/07/12

Posts: 142

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

Yes, certainly, but I think she had no choice but to do what she did.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

I don't really define "Dorothy's" action (killing Frank, that is) as morally ambiguous, because it was instinctive; she lashed out with whatever was at hand while in a state of panic. It was evident that she was terrified of him and was particularly fearful of how he might hurt others who were nice to her. She was a momma bear defending her cub.


Posted Jul. 25, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Terry R

Join Date: 12/26/11

Posts: 18

RE: Did you find any moral ambiguity in Dorothy's behavior?

I agree with Kimk... It was an instinctive reaction to protect her baby.


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