Question

NEED HELP ASAP

In 'In the Lake of the Woods,' John reacts to circumstances and makes decisions that lead to his
eventual downfall. Could it be that the novel suggests, with such a bleak ending, that life is a matter of
dealing with circumstances that arise and taking responsibility for these decisions? Could it be that life
is about simply surviving the 'hand we are dealt?' John's overarching and ever-present desire to be
loved builds up from his childhood and leads him to deal with circumstances in peculiar ways. In what
ways does he later take responsibility for these decisions and how do they contribute to his
demise?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

John's lifelong struggle to be loved leads him to make decisions that ultimately contribute to his demise. He comes to believe in the power of love and forgiveness, believing that if he could just show his love, he could find redemption. This leads him to try to cover up the murder of his wife Kathy, believing that if he could hide the truth, he would be able to keep his family together and be loved.

However, John's attempts to cover up the truth eventually backfire, leading to his own downfall. He is unable to accept responsibility for his actions and instead tries to shift the blame onto others. He is unable to tell the truth about what happened to Kathy and instead tries to blame it on an unknown assailant. He also tries to blame his own psychological issues for his actions, believing that if he could just get help, he could be redeemed.

John's attempts to cover up the truth and shift the blame eventually lead to his own downfall. As the novel progresses, he is unable to live with the guilt of what he has done and eventually decides to take his own life. In this way, the novel suggests that life is a matter of dealing with circumstances that arise and taking responsibility for our decisions. It suggests that life is about simply surviving the 'hand we are dealt' and that if we are unable to accept responsibility for our actions, they will ultimately lead to our own downfall.