Question

Throughout the passage, the mother is seen to be disappointed in Morton's passive behavior. How is this highlighted?

1) When the father of the bully challenges Morton to a fight and Morton backs down.
2) When the mother expresses her disappointment in Morton for not standing up for himself and his family.
3) When the bully's father intimidates the mother and she looks to Morton for help.
4) All of the above.

Answer 1

Morton's mother's disappointment is illuminated through instances where Morton avoids confrontation, coupled with her explicit expression of dissatisfaction and her expectation for him to defend her, making all of the above reasons correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mother's disappointment in Morton's passive behavior is highlighted through several instances in the text, which collectively underscore her disapproval of his inability to assert himself in challenging situations:

1. When the father of the bully challenges Morton to a fight and Morton backs down, it shows Morton's reluctance to confront aggression, thereby disappointing his mother who expects a more assertive response.
2. The mother directly expresses her disappointment to Morton for not standing up for himself and his family, making her feelings explicitly clear to both Morton and the reader.
3. When faced with the intimidation from the bully's father, the mother looks to Morton for support. His passivity in this moment further illustrates her disappointment, as she expects him to protect and defend her.

Thus, all of the above situations contribute to the portrayal of Morton's mother as being disappointed with his passivity.