Nineteen minutes by Jodi Picoult is about the challenges the youths face due to neglect by their parents and rampant bullying in schools. The author chose the title Nineteen to affirm the teenage challenges. The author also chose the title Nineteen to represent 9 people murdered and 10 that got injured. The shooting spree also takes 19 minutes.
Peter Houghton, the main protagonist, has been bullied since kindergarten. The mother Lacy seems to be emotionally distanced away from his son. On his first day, at the kindergarten, Peter is bullied by exceptionally everyone including the elder brother. The effects of post-traumatic stress begins at this stage and it is not addressed until it is too late when Peter decides to revenge by shooting all …show more content…
Matt and Courtney and the rest who are not mentioned are just victims of circumstances. The more the bullying the more Peter’s behaviour was being reinforced and determined. The rational choice theory by (Homan) can also be used to explain the behaviour of most of the protagonists in the book.
According to the rational choice theory, individuals will always calculate and make decisive decisions in a rational manner that will favour them. For that reason, individuals will always avoid punishment and engage in behaviours which will reward them. That can be seen by Alex agreeing to be the presiding judge of the shooting case which involves her daughter Josie. When Alex realizes the intrigues of the case she steps down and looks for a good attorney to defend her child. However, she also makes calculated rational choice of befriending the attorney so that he can defend her daughter in the court of law.
The rational choice theory also reveals that individuals will make rational decisions which besides favouring them will also make them achieve a sense of satisfaction. That can be confirmed when Peter decides to shoot and revenge. After the shooting Peter is satisfied and he is willing to get back into a relationship with Josie. The same is seen with Alex who gets pregnant with the attorney just to get a sense of
Peter Houghton, the main protagonist, has been bullied since kindergarten. The mother Lacy seems to be emotionally distanced away from his son. On his first day, at the kindergarten, Peter is bullied by exceptionally everyone including the elder brother. The effects of post-traumatic stress begins at this stage and it is not addressed until it is too late when Peter decides to revenge by shooting all …show more content…
Matt and Courtney and the rest who are not mentioned are just victims of circumstances. The more the bullying the more Peter’s behaviour was being reinforced and determined. The rational choice theory by (Homan) can also be used to explain the behaviour of most of the protagonists in the book.
According to the rational choice theory, individuals will always calculate and make decisive decisions in a rational manner that will favour them. For that reason, individuals will always avoid punishment and engage in behaviours which will reward them. That can be seen by Alex agreeing to be the presiding judge of the shooting case which involves her daughter Josie. When Alex realizes the intrigues of the case she steps down and looks for a good attorney to defend her child. However, she also makes calculated rational choice of befriending the attorney so that he can defend her daughter in the court of law.
The rational choice theory also reveals that individuals will make rational decisions which besides favouring them will also make them achieve a sense of satisfaction. That can be confirmed when Peter decides to shoot and revenge. After the shooting Peter is satisfied and he is willing to get back into a relationship with Josie. The same is seen with Alex who gets pregnant with the attorney just to get a sense of