2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Sir Francis Rowe is a descendent of Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland aka The Butcher of Culloden. Do you think genetics played a role in his perversions?

The discussion of nature versus nurture always fascinates me. Nevertheless, it concerns me that the idea of inherited evil might provide an excuse for a killer's crimes, but then learned behavior could also be considered an mitigating circumstance.

I believe that Rowe and Ashworth were well aware that their actions were perverse and morally wrong, but just didn't care.

Yeah I agree Rowe and Ashworth knew that they were wrong gut they definitely didnt care.
I think all the suspects were just born evil.

I don't know whether they were all born evil, Mary, but the high ranking members of that society were not restrained at all by law or enforcement of moral imperatives, sadly. This would have allowed their impulses to be given rein.

Doesn't Sebastian ruminate on this failing of his society at some point in the book? Perhaps in a discussion with the good doctor?

I think it's all nurtured behavior. Rowe's father was revered for his behavior so the son would have wanted to live up to his image. I'd imagine that William was a brutal man who taught his son like behavior. Same with Ashworth. Both of these men had depraved fathers. I don't believe they inherited an evil gene...just borne of and raised by evil men.

I watched a 60 Minutes segment a few weeks ago about one man who tried a group of Nazis during the Nuremberg trials. He's still alive and when asked if he thought these men were savages, his response surprised me. He said that war creates situations where those under command do things they would never normally do but justify it as following orders. It is one of the cruel byproducts of war and we have seen evidence of it in every war.