Manipulation Quotes

How we cite our quotes:

Quote #10

"Jesus!" the old lady cried. "You've got good blood! I know you wouldn't shoot a lady! I know you come from nice people! Pray! Jesus, you ought not to shoot a lady. I'll give you all the money I've got!" (131)

The grandmother offers The Misfit money. After he's already killed her family and told her he's not interested in stealing for gain, this attempt seems ridiculous. The Misfit doesn't take her seriously, and makes a joke in response. Although you could read the grandmother as trying another tactic of manipulation, you could also argue that she's reached such a state of desperation at this point that she's throwing out all of her old tactics at once. It now looks as if everything she said before was an attempt to keep herself alive.