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At the conclusion of the novel Tom decides he is looking at success in Danny Is this an objective assessment, or does Tom need to think this? The conclusion of the novel portrays Danny at university working towards an established goal and most importantly - socialising. When compared to events such as Danny's attempted suicide, these final events surely show a remarkable improvement. Tom even goes so far as to say that he is looking at success; however it is important to acknowledge that Tom, himself is not totally impartial.
Danny's ability to get inside people caused Tom to compromise both his professional and personal integrity and this reason alone provides enough evidence for one to assume that he does in fact need to think that Danny is a success. Danny's success however, must be regarded appropriately how does one view success in a murderer? Success in ones life is measured in all sorts of forms, in particular sporting and academic achievements. Danny's success, however is clouded with ambiguity and vagueness. Some would view the many transitions that Danny appears to have gone through as a success. His most remarkable transition is the comparison of his earlier revelation regarding the attempted suicide, I just thought sod it juxtaposed against his comment at the end of the novel, finals this year.
Consider also Danny's transition from jail to freedom. He admits that he made prison work and his transition to freedom, (with lack of freedom) where he is not allowed to work with people clearly frustrates him. Danny has also burned his tapes in that he no longer requires Toms support. The conclusion of the novel portrays Danny at uni working towards a goal and somewhat cheerful. Ambition and direction have crept their way into Danny's life and Barker even portrays him as socialising, a proprietorial arm across his shoulder.
Although Danny admits, I dont why I killed her he appears to have at least come to terms with her death and possibly his actions. This is an important step and he demonstrates his acceptance with his comment shes got a right to quite a few of my brain cells. Danny also appears to be coping with yet another identity change, if it happens again, I wont run. This dual acceptance is evidence of his developing maturity and perhaps a step in the direction of the rehabilitation that Tom was so keen to occur. While Danny's attractiveness compels Tom and the reader to perceive Danny as a success it is important to acknowledge Toms grounds for his perception.
Most notably Tom lets Danny get inside. Throughout the novel Tom conveys his conscious awareness of Danny's power of manipulation; however it is interesting to note that he still falls under this gift. Just like Greene, Martha, and Longarths teachers, Tom is forced to compromise his professional and personal values and reorganise around him [Danny]. Danny had to be in control, even in their first few sessions, Danny was quick to restore the intimacy of their past relationship. Tom allowed this to slip, never realising that that meeting was the foundation for Danny's manipulation games to begin. An important idea to consider is that of their meeting place.
While psychologists are required to follow strict guidelines regarding the treatment of patients, Border Crossing portrays Tom disregarding these rules. The sessions were conducted in Toms home, a place that should remain disconnected from patients, and on two occasions Danny was even offered alcohol. The fact that Tom succumbs to Danny's manipulation techniques possibly stemmed from the guilt that Tom feels regarding Danny's conviction. Unfortunately Tom doesnt recognise the extent of Danny's manipulation until it is too late, when it had not seemed possible to betray him. Tom feels guilty for not demanding that Danny be placed in a secure hospital facility and he also feels the burden that if Danny were to kill someone in a fire his silence would return to haunt him. Tom needs success in light of his recent failures (failed marriage and pregnancy problems) and Danny was just the thing that Tom could feel he had succeeded on.
Danny was very, very good at making people think they were helping and in a certain way, Tom felt this. Danny appears when Tom is most vulnerable and in doing so is able to fill the hole that Laurens departure had created. Not only did Tom feel as if he was helping Danny, but through their numerous meeting he took on the role of a father-like figure, and so there may have been a type of paternal affection felt towards Danny. Toms incident with Neil, earlier in his childhood was perhaps just evidence that kids can be very cruel. Or perhaps, this incident may have been evidence of the perfect circumstances required to reveal the inherent evil in people. Danny challenges Toms opinion that people dont really change, that an individual may revert to the old responses.
Danny's challenge appears to have raised questions in Toms mind regarding his theory. If coincidence had not intervened during the pond incident, Tom could possibly have been in Danny position a child murderer. This fact scares Tom, thus he needs to believe Danny is a success, because he also needs to believe people can change. Toms reliability on the matter of Danny is highly questionable.
Many of his actions were dictated by the lingering guilt from Danny's imprisonment and his final assessment of Danny is clouded by a need for proof that people can change and a feeling resembling a paternal attachment. Danny has certainly shown some remarkable improvements, most notably his new-found ambition towards life and his coming to terms with Lizzie and identity changes. Taking this into consideration, Tom still recognises that Danny is precarious, shadowed and ambiguous the only possible good outcome. Perhaps this is true; however, due to the vagueness in defining success in terms of a murderer, it is probably more suitable to consider these improvements just as they are improvements. After all, success is a journey, not a destination.
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Research essay sample on People Can Change Danny Is A Success Tom
