So many errors in life can be attributed to the human folly of assumption—our ability to postulate outcomes that have not occurred in situations we have not experienced. This remarkable ability is the driving force behind complete human failure in this story. Sam and Bill fail so completely because their grasp of how the world works just doesn't hold true. The realities of their situation quickly become unmanageable, and their failure to adapt to reality ultimately costs them a bit of Bill's sanity and two hundred and fifty dollars cash.
Questions About Dreams, Hopes and Plans
- Why do Sam and Bill choose the town of Summit?
- What is it that Sam and Bill hope to accomplish with this scheme?
- How does Johnny's perception of the situation inform his behavior with Sam and Bill?
- Old Dorset takes a hard line with Sam and Bill. What are the assumptions he is operating on that allow him to make his counter offer?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Bill reacts best when the plan goes wrong, since he's eager to abandon it rather than see it through.
Sam's decision to not give up on his plan serves him better than Bill's abject surrender.