Truman Held: Lynne and On Giving Him Back to His Own Summary

In Lynne, Tommy Odds rapes Lynne. In a way, it's not really rape, because she doesn't scream or struggle too much. Tommy comes to her and tells her that the other women won't have him, because of his destroyed arm. He tells her that she should be sympathetic and sleep with him. She tells him that he can't do this, and he pulls on her hair so that it hurts. She begs him not to do it, but he persists, saying that he can't help himself. He asks if she can't stand cripples or blacks.

At one moment, Lynne thinks she could push him off her, but she doesn't. She is overcome by guilt. She tries to think of all the good things...