Wieland

1) What are the implications of the idea that even our best minds, the most reasonable of us, cannot be counted to always act completely reasonably? Specifically, what might the implications be for the argument Brown makes about America?

2) Tompkins's reading of Carwin is very positive, yet most readers are a bit more skeptical about him than she is, unable to get past the more negative aspects of the character. What are some facts that might keep us from seeing Carwin as "quintessentially American"?