I’m a little confused about this. Throughout the book, Benji was basically shown as the only one who was brave/upstanding enough to do the right thing from the beginning and walk away from Kevin. Many times, he silently/privately took Maya’s side … but I just don’t understand why he never vocally/publicly took her side?
Like, I get that he wasn’t a real witness b/c he didn’t see it happen. But I still feel like he could and should have spoken up in Maya’s defence when the whole town was saying she’s lying. I get that Benji’s maybe more of a “lead with actions” than “lead with words” kind of guy. But he definitely leads with words when needed (eg. When he stood up and gave that pep talk after Kevin got pulled off the bus) and in this case his words were needed. There were practically no voices pushing back on the popular narrative that Kevin was the victim and she was the wh*re/liar. He could have done so, and I’m just not really sure what his motivations were for not? Given his character, it doesn’t seem like it could have been out of cowardice or a lack of good morals or anything…
Thoughts?
*PLEASE NO SPOILERS FOR THE WINNERS IN DISCUSSIONS*
by harrietmwelsch910
1 Comment
It’s his best friend who he also happens to be in love with. He knows what happens but he doesn’t *know* like you said he wasn’t a witness. I think there’s heavily complicated feelings there and he definitely doesn’t want it to be true.
He also knows how hockey and the town works. Kevin was the golden boy. Not him. Him saying anything wouldn’t have made one bit of difference in how the town felt.
And he’s always been a reluctant leader. He doesn’t really see himself as a leader.
To me, it would have felt hugely out of character for him to vocally take up Maya’s defense.