Putting people on a pedestal almost always sets them up for a fall. A president has a scandalous affair. Your favorite American Idol contestant lip-syncs to the wrong track. A star sports player turns out to have an imaginary girlfriend. Your role model tries to kill you. It never ends well.
Oh, that example of a role model trying to kill you? It totally happens in Mortal Engines. Tom views Valentine as a man who can do no wrong, who can move mountains and save small children from disaster. Shocker: he blows up mountains and pushes small children into disaster. How do you rationalize it when a person who can do no wrong—does wrong?
Questions About Admiration
- Why does Tom admire Valentine so much, and why does he have trouble not admiring him when he finds out what a horrible person he is?
- Is the relationship between Tom and Hester based more on romantic love or admiration? What about the relationship between Katherine and Bevis?
- Anna Fang is arguably as heroic as Valentine. Why doesn't Tom admire her?