Sunshine and Rainbows

    As we've seen in the section 'After', people in the book are not done being disgusting.  It's safe to say that everyone hates Old Nick, but we also see the media portrayed in a negative light.  There are newsmen trying to get pictures, which is bad enough as an invasion of privacy, but the commentators were worse.  During the interview that Ma did, the interviewer asked some questions that I really didn't like.  She calls their escape a rescue, which we see as not giving Jack the credit he deserves.  In fact, all of the questions that are asked before the interview is cut short feel like they're in poor taste. 

    There's also the case with Ma's dad, the one who held a funeral for her.  I think we can all agree that his behavior and opinions on what Jack represents are completely disgusting.  While it is technically true that Jack is the product of rape, we also know just how much his arrival saved Ma.  Without him, Ma would likely have died, probably of poor hygiene or suicide.  Also, we know the lengths Ma went to in order to keep Old Nick from interacting with Jack, effectively preventing Old Nick from taking any sort of parental role in Jack's eyes. 

    Another thing I noticed was that the lawyer Morris points out that Ma could use her experience to write a book, which seems pushy for someone who's been back in the normal world for less than a week.  Ma even says so herself, "You think we should sell ourselves before someone else does."  Many people dream of being famous, but we see from this perspective that fame is incompatible with privacy.  In one of Ma's talks with Dr. Clay, she says something to the effect that she's been in isolation for so long that people are overwhelming.  This fame will likely cause trouble for Jack once he starts his formal schooling, potentially slowing his already delayed education. 

    So it's not all sunshine and rainbows in Outside.  In some ways, their nightmare is just beginning, especially for Jack.  But at least they aren't in confinement anymore.

Scheduling

    One thing that particularly struck me was just how much more responsive and engaged Jefferson was once the date of his execution was set.  In Grant's first visit to Jefferson after the execution date was set, Jefferson responds verbally to Grant's greeting.  It's not much, but it's more than before.  This is also the same visit where Jefferson decides that he wants a gallon of ice cream for his last meal, and he engages Grant in some conversation about what's happening at the quarter.  This interaction is the first time that we see Jefferson doing really human things without prompting, and this only happens once he knows exactly when he is going to die.

    It seems odd initially, but it sort of makes sense.  When I've had projects with no fixed due dates, I tend to put them off, but when I know I have until a certain date to do something, it gets done.  Jefferson may have had a bunch of things he wanted to do, but didn't have the motivation to do them.  Now that he knows how much time he has left, he can fit form structured plans rather than being able to put them off saying 'there will be time.' 

    There was also an implication that until this point, Grant hadn't really been getting through to Jefferson, but after the date of the execution is announced, Grant and Jefferson get a lot done.  I have to wonder how much of this progress was from a change in Jefferson's psyche and how much was from Grant changing his teaching strategies.  What are your thoughts?  What caused Jefferson's seemingly sudden transformation to believing himself to be human?