Asked by nig

Read this excerpt from Infinite Jest.

‘My application’s not bought,’ I am telling them, calling into the darkness of the red cave that opens out before closed eyes. ‘I am not just a boy who plays tennis. I have an intricate history. Experiences and feelings. I’m complex.

‘I read,’ I say. ‘I study and read. I bet I’ve read everything you’ve read. Don’t think I haven’t. I consume libraries. I wear out spines and ROM-drives. I do things like get in a taxi and say, “The library, and step on it.” My instincts concerning syntax and mechanics are better than your own, I can tell, with due respect.

What assumption does the narrator make in this excerpt?
that the people he is addressing enjoy long conversations
that the people he is addressing underestimate him
that the people he is addressing have researched philosophy
that the people he is addressing expect a confrontation

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
that the people he is addressing underestimate him

He insists he’s “not just a boy who plays tennis,” stresses his complexity and extensive reading, and claims superior instincts—all responses to being seen as less than he is, so he’s assuming they’ve underestimated him.