Wu Ting
How would you interpret the last sentence? Disdaining any oratorical fireworks, McCarthy’s talk was of an intimate, homey nature, punctuated at times with humor. But on the serious side, he launched many barbs at the present setup of the State Department, at President Truman’s reluctance to press investigation of “traitors from within,” and other pertinent matters…. However, he added: “The morals of our people have not been destroyed. They still exist and this cloak of numbness and apathy needs only a spark to rekindle them.” How would you interpret the last sentence? I think he means a spark can make the cloak of numbness and apathy into flames, and then the cloak can rekindle the morals of people, right? Thanks. And this excerpt is taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.
Jul 7, 2015 6:49 AM
Answers · 5
Your understanding of the last sentence is too literal. Unfortunately, this comment is not to be taken literally, but figuratively. So a "spark to rekindle" is not an actual spark from a fire. It is the idea that if someone shows interest in this, maybe that interest can spread to other people as well and then "the numbness and apathy" that have hidden the morals of people can be removed. Basically, morals still exist, but people don't think of them the same way as they did in the past.
July 7, 2015
Not the best worded sentence. My interpretation: "They still exist covered by a cloak of numbness and apathy, but a spark could rekindle the moral fire within our people."
July 7, 2015
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