Torn in Between the Two

Ned has gotten himself into a sticky situation. Does he leave with his "wife" and his soon to be child or does he stay in his homeland where his mother still remains. Ned has always been a mama's boy and has gotten picked on all his life about it. For a while in the novel it seemed like he thought of his mother as more than just a mother and that he may not only love her but be "in love" with her. However, on page 321, I think Ned makes it clear that he does not love his mother in that way. Mary ask him if he loves his mother more than her and he tells her that it is not the same and I believe him. He loves them both so much it is hard to choose between them.

I do not agree with Ned's decision to stay instead of going with Mary. However, I do agree with Joe when he said on page 299 that Ned was a madman. He is crazy to think he can break his mom out of jail. With all of the people looking for him and wanting to kill him and all the news he has sent back saying that he would turn himself in if they let his mother go, the police probably have a hundred men just guarding his mother because they know that is what Ned wants. This idea of him getting her out of jail is just ridiculous.

Mary is a very smart lady. Everyone should have left and headed for San Francisco with her. She is so brave. She is pregnant and a woman traveling across the sea by herself and she actually made it. Ned should have been with her and should have been there for his child's birth instead of being on a hill having to celebrate a million miles away. I agree with Mary when she said that his mother would be happier if she knew he was safe instead of staying there basically waiting to be killed (321). His mother was always trying to get him to leave Eleven Mile Creek because the police were always trying to get him. I believe Ned is not only worried about his mother but also worried about his reputation and thinking more of himself. He does not want to be a coward and leaving with Mary would make it seem like he ran away and the traps won.