Question
“I never expected to ask you to obey, but this is one time you must. It is only a matter of form to have women and children first. The ship is thoroughly equipped and everyone on her will be saved.”
Mrs. Smith asked him if he was being completely truthful. Mr. Smith gave a firm, decisive, “Yes.” So they kissed good-by, and as the boat dropped to the sea, he called from the deck, “Keep your hands in your pockets; it is very cold weather.”
—A Night to Remember,
Walter Lord
What do readers learn about Mr. Smith from this conversation?
He cares enough about his wife to lie to her to save her life.
He does not believe there is really anything wrong with ship.
He is very concerned about Mrs. Smith’s hand being too cold.
He is very bossy and demanding toward his wife.
Mrs. Smith asked him if he was being completely truthful. Mr. Smith gave a firm, decisive, “Yes.” So they kissed good-by, and as the boat dropped to the sea, he called from the deck, “Keep your hands in your pockets; it is very cold weather.”
—A Night to Remember,
Walter Lord
What do readers learn about Mr. Smith from this conversation?
He cares enough about his wife to lie to her to save her life.
He does not believe there is really anything wrong with ship.
He is very concerned about Mrs. Smith’s hand being too cold.
He is very bossy and demanding toward his wife.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
From this conversation, readers learn that Mr. Smith cares enough about his wife to lie to her to save her life. His insistence that the ship is thoroughly equipped and that everyone will be saved, despite the implicit danger of the situation, indicates that he is prioritizing her safety over complete honesty. This reflects a protective instinct, showing that his primary concern is for her well-being.