Essay Questions

What is caustic about the character Chay?

The reader is conscious that Chay is the man behind Franklin's accident, but Henry is not aware. When Henry wants to climb the mountain to honor his late brother's memories, he looks for his friends to help him accomplish the task. Ironically, Cathy is among the friends Henry chooses to climb the mountain alongside him. Chay knows what he did, but he does not want to reveal the truth because he fears for his life. Therefore, he decides to hide the evidence by being close to Henry and giving him any necessary support that he might need. However, later Henry discovers the truth, and he forgives Chay because everyone is a sinner.

What is the emblematic connotation of ‘Katahdin’ as used in the book ‘Trouble’?

Franklin's term 'Katahdin' is muttered to his brother Henry, few seconds before he dies. Before his death, Franklin and his brother, Henry, had organized to climb the Katahdin Mountain. Consequently, the term 'Katahdin' embodies Franklin's memories. After Franklin's death, Henry honors his brother's memories by mounting Katahdin Mounting together with his three friends.

How does Henry’s father depict poor parenting?

Parenting is a skill that requires the parents to employ reasonable tactics to ensure that their children embrace societal, ethical morals. However, Henry's father uses his wealth to control his sons, something that turns out to be tragic in the end. The reader learns that Franklin and Henry are spoilt kids because their father wants them to follow instructions by rewarding them with whatever they ask for. In the end, Franklin becomes a racist and looks down upon the poor and minority groups. Henry also learns from his friends that good morals are God-given but not influenced by wealth. Therefore, parents must know that money and wealth should not be used as a tool for bringing up upright children.