Lesson 6: When Right Isn't Right in "The Incalculable Gesture"

“The Incalculable Life Gesture” (50)

We learn from Richard's moral flaw--the self-destructive resentment he harbors against his sister who he rightly sees as a cipher--that the more we rationalize the more we are irrational; the more we are technically right about an issue, the more we can be morally and spiritually wrong and as such we live an irrational life and evidence The Irrational Mind.

Another Theme of the Irrational Mind: When We're Right But We're Even MORE Wrong

Categories of Being Right But Being More Wrong

One. We see the trees but not the forest: some law or doctrine that causes destruction even as we obey it.

Two. We make a bad situation worse: We report a bully who's beating our child and the bully retaliates.

Three. We hurt people's feelings by telling the truth.

Four. We choose victory over humanity. Study group keeps dead weight and loses the contest. 

Five. We rationalize our selfish behavior by saying, "we're right." The guy on the bus who won't give up his seat to old lady because "I was first" is selfish.

Six. We lie to give hope and spare feelings.

Seven. We have bad intentions. A teacher says, "It's your obligation to come to class prepared" even as he humiliates a student.

Eight. Not knowing whole story. You get a waitress fired from her job because of her horrible service.

Nine. Gloating. "I told you so."

Ten. You bring up a truth but you don't have a purpose or an end game. A guy tells his girlfriend for example that she doesn't love him, that she uses him for all the presents he gives her and her response is, "Yes, so what do you plan to do about it?"

Sample Thesis

Many of the characters in James Lasdun's short story collection go down the path of destruction because they find something that they are partly right about and use that "being right" as an excuse to be in denial about the bigger picture in which are are more importantly wrong. This form of denial is evidenced in many ways, including ___________, __________, __________, and ______________.

Anger and selfishness and spite fueling self-righteousness in "The Incalculable Life Gesture."

Lust fueling the rationalization of adultery (because I deserve a more exciting life, an escape from my imprisoned existence) in "The Natural Order."

Greed fueling risk-taking and ambition and the quest for a better life in "An Anxious Man."

A lack of confidence fueling the "sure thing" in "The Half Sister."

 

 

1. What’s the psychological profile of Ellen on page 50? A leech, a cipher, an indulgent, narcissistic ne’er-do-well. But is Richard any better, wanting his share of a small house when his sister and child need shelter? I find myself siding with Richard. Am I as petty as he is?
   
2. How is Ellen unfair to her brother Richard regarding the inheritance of the house and how does Richard respond to this injustice? He’s in a dilemma: Be a victim or a bully. See page 51.
3. How does Ellen pour salt into the wounds she has inflicted upon Richard? See 51.
4. What bothers Richard about the possibility of death on page 54?
5. Why did Richard decide to become a teacher? See page 57.
6. Is the malady a metaphor for unrealistic expectations regarding justice and charity? Explain.
7. How does Richard’s self-image as a life-priest alienate him from modern life? See 57 and 58.
8. What does the story’s acrimonious ending seem to be telling us about empathy?
9. What is Richard's delusion or moral flaw? That he has the right to fume and stew over his sister's injustice when in fact his resentment is killing him more than the injustice itself. His resentment is a cancer that is growing like the tumor on his face.