Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
Of course she'd be morally responsible. However, the extent of legal responsibility is arguable. I believe Irene intended to push her, and that push resulted in death. Same situation as if Irene had pushed her and Clare had hit her head on something and died. The intent to kill wasn't there; the intent to push was.
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My goodness. So if I harbour uncharitable thoughts about someone then that makes me morally responsible for the bad things that happen to them? Voodoo.
(Don't forget that it is your interpretation that there was an intent to push, not mine. I just see Irene rushing to Clare and placing her hand on Clare's arm. I think Clare's backward step is unrelated to Irene's intentions.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
[...] It's an impulse murder but it grows out of the story. You have two women who grew up together, took different paths, reunited; they're jealous of each other's lives, tensions grow, and only one survives.
What's unimportant to this story is what then happens to Irene. As the story stands, she's become a murderer, and whether she's caught and punished is irrelevant--this is not a mystery or a police/legal procedural.
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I agree that what actually happens to Irene is unimportant, but an accusation would have made what you propose (that Irene pushed Clare) more credible. The idea that Irene is able to push Clare out the window, but have no one notice anything even though they are watching them, seems quite incredible. Make that credible (have someone accuse her) and it becomes believable that it happened.