It was clear from the start that this was a doomed voyage, but Jasper could not perceive this truth. He forged onward despite protests from his mother and all his acquaintances. In a great hurry, he made arrangements with ship captains, secured goods for the trip, and generally worked himself into a breathless mess by noon. He was a comical sight on the docks, his cap nearly blown off his head, his trousers half held up by ratty suspenders. But he was oblivious to the figure he cut.
He had awoken on this unlucky Tuesday with an idea in his mind so bright it was is if the stars themselves had lodged it there: he must sail
to Ecuador and join his older brother Thomas on his quest for the lost city. That he had not heard from Thomas in over six months and had absolutely no idea where in Ecuador Thomas might be found did little to dissuade Jasper. "How big could Ecuador possibly be?" he speculated to himself. "It couldn't be much larger than New York! I will surely ask around and find him promptly." Jasper was, if nothing else, a positive thinker.
Which best expresses the narrator's viewpoint towards Jasper?
1. The narrator thinks Jasper is foolish.
• 2. The narrator sees Jasper as loyal to his family.
• 3. The narrator views Jasper as unlucky and uneducated.
• 4. The narrator admires Jasper's ability to see the good in things.
1 answer
The best choice that expresses the narrator's viewpoint towards Jasper is:
While Jasper's loyalty to his brother and his positive thinking can be noted, the overall tone of the narrator suggests a degree of bemusement at Jasper's lack of awareness regarding the challenges he faces. The phrase "doomed voyage" and the description of Jasper as "oblivious" and "a comical sight" indicate a critical perspective on his misguided enthusiasm.
