I’ve found that some people who’ve done something bad will just go ahead and condemn everyone else around them to avoid feeling shitty themselves. As if that even works. Other types of people, and I’m not saying you’re this, necessarily, but I’m just putting it out there, will defend people like me on principle because when their turns come around, they want that so badly for themselves.
in this passage, which is an excerpt from a letter from the teacher, Mr. Grierson, it becomes evident that Madeline/Linda is identifying with him. They are both as guilty as each other, with one major difference. He has thoughts he mustn’t act on, and she has thoughts she should have acted on. They are both guilty for the things they didn’t do. In other words, it’s not what he does, it’s what he thinks. It’s not what she thinks, it’s what she does (or doesn’t do).
