Final answer:
Characters in literature often keep their fatal conditions secret to protect their loved ones from distress, maintain normalcy in life, or because they believe that revealing their illness would not change their situation. This dynamic adds complexity to the narrative and depth to the characters' motivations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason a senator or any character might choose to keep their fatal condition secret can vary widely based on their personal situation, beliefs, and the potential impact revealing their illness might have on others around them. In literature, this scenario is often explored to add depth to a character's motivations and to set up complex narrative dynamics. For example, a character might hide their condition to protect loved ones from emotional distress or to avoid affecting their responsibilities. In other cases, the character might feel that revealing their illness would not change the outcome and prefer to spend their remaining time without the burden of others' sorrow.
There are references to characters like Nora from Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House, who chooses not to disclose her husband's terminal condition to avoid causing him further distress, as he is already very ill. Another reference provided describes Enrique, who doesn't tell his mother about his terminal condition, perhaps to spare her pain or because he himself does not fully grasp the gravity of his illness. In such narratives, the choices made by these characters reflect complex human emotions and ethical considerations, such as those contemplated by Act Utilitarians, who might argue that omitting the truth can sometimes result in greater overall happiness or less pain for those involved.