Stone shows up at Marion's door. He is clearly distraught and uncomfortable, but this is nothing compared to Marion's overwhelming feelings of anger and abandonment. Stone awkwardly tries to make conversation with Marion, who wants nothing more than to make his father suffer. In an unexpected attempt to explain himself to his son, Stone tells Marion his life story. Throughout his life, Thomas battled with anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, although he is a brilliant surgeon. Many years after his mother died, he met Sister Mary Praise, and fell desperately in love with her, although he didn't know it until it was too late. And then she died at Stone's hand, and he fled from Africa, overwhelmed with grief and guilt. He has found it impossible to cope with his emotions, to process the devastation he had inflicted in his own life, which is why he had never returned to claim his children.

1. Why do you think Marion feels such anger and feels abandoned by his father? Do you think his feelings are justified? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Thomas Stone's explanation to Marion is reasonable? Do you think it justifies his behavior? Why or why not? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Thomas Stone has admitted to being an alcoholic. How do you think his alcoholism relates to his inability to cope with his emotions? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The meeting of Genet and Marion is complex and confusing. It is unclear whether or not Genet spitefully and knowingly infected Marion with the diseases that would threaten his life, or if it is an unexpected and unfortunate side effect of a lifelong obsession. Marion's time with Genet is also disturbing because he essentially rapes Genet in his bed, forcefully having sex with her, ripping through her circumcision scars. He doesn't seem to care that Genet is bleeding all over his bed, or that he is hurting her, because he is finally claiming what he believes is his. Despite his violent reintroduction to Genet, Marion cannot stop the fantasy of being with Genet forever.

1. Do you think, knowing Genet's character, it is likely she knowingly infected Marion? Why or why not? What do you think would be her motivation for consciously infecting him? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Marion's treatment of Genet was rape? Why or why not? Would you consider it a criminal act, if not outright rape? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the problem Marion has perceiving reality in relation to Genet when he still thinks about marrying her and being with her for the rest of his life. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.