The narrator exhibits a deep sense of shock and introspection upon hearing the cart declare itself as "Evil," suggesting feelings of betrayal and confusion regarding their previous perceptions of the cart. This is supported by the evidence that the declaration "went through me like a spear of ice" and prompted the narrator to reconsider their feelings of sympathy toward both the cart and themselves, indicating a profound emotional upheaval.
Use the passage from "The Cart" to answer the question:
Given all this, you can imagine my surprise when I heard it speak or, to be more precise, when I heard what it said. Its declaration was the last thing I was
expecting to hear. Its words went through me like a spear of ice and forced me to reconsider the whole situation, beginning with the sympathy I felt for the
cart, then the sympathy I felt for myself, and more generally my sympathy for miracles. I wasn’t surprised by the fact of it speaking; I had been expecting
that. Perhaps I felt that our relationship had matured to the point where linguistic signs were appropriate. I knew that the moment had come for it to say
something to me (for example that it admired me and loved me and was on my side). I bent down next to it, pretending to tie my shoelaces, so that I could
put my ear to the wire mesh on its side, and then I was able to hear its voice, a whisper from the underside of the world, and yet the words were perfectly
clear and distinct:
“I am Evil.”
Use the passage to answer the question.
In 1–2 sentences, explain an inference about the narrator’s state of mind that is supported by the details in the passage, and provide at
least one piece of strong evidence to support your inference.
1 answer