Betrayal in The Lords of Discipline “When the intent does not precede the initiation of the relationship but arises in response to a specific situation in the context of an ongoing relationship, the violation of trust is categorized as opportunistic betrayal” (Elangovan and Shapiro 6). Pat Conroy's novel The Lords of Discipline is fascinating. Will, the narrator, tells us about his experience at the Carolina Military Institute where he spent four years during the 1960's. The book deals with honour and discipline, brotherhood and friendship, and so on. Another theme in the book is treason. Through some of his characters, Pat Conroy shows that society, and more particularly the Charlestonian society in the novel, is the source of many betrayals. Tradd St Croix. Tradd comes from an Aristocratic family of Charleston. He goes to the Carolina Military Institute to honour his father who graduated from the school. His father is a
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Tradd's mother also betrayed Will. Indeed, at the end of the book, we learn that Will did not meet Annie Kate by chance. Abigail told her to wait for Will in the alley. She knew that Will would take care of her, pity her. Will feels betrayed because if he had known, he would not have fallen in love with her. He would not have lost his virginity to a girl who did not want a relationship with a man who was not part of the Charlestonian aristrocracy. Abigail and Will were very close and that is why he is hurt by what she did behind his back. We, the readers, can really feel this betrayal if we read again the book. Indeed, in the first pages, we realise that there is a hint and it enables us to feel the scheme she planned: “ 'Be patient about girls, Will,' Abigail said tenderly, touching my face with a large, hesitant band. 'Some fine girl will come along and appreciate you for all the right reasons. Young girls have an infinite capacity for being attracted to the wrong sort of men. I know about this. All about it.' ”
Tradd's mother also betrayed Will. Indeed, at the end of the book, we learn that Will did not meet Annie Kate by chance. Abigail told her to wait for Will in the alley. She knew that Will would take care of her, pity her. Will feels betrayed because if he had known, he would not have fallen in love with her. He would not have lost his virginity to a girl who did not want a relationship with a man who was not part of the Charlestonian aristrocracy. Abigail and Will were very close and that is why he is hurt by what she did behind his back. We, the readers, can really feel this betrayal if we read again the book. Indeed, in the first pages, we realise that there is a hint and it enables us to feel the scheme she planned: “ 'Be patient about girls, Will,' Abigail said tenderly, touching my face with a large, hesitant band. 'Some fine girl will come along and appreciate you for all the right reasons. Young girls have an infinite capacity for being attracted to the wrong sort of men. I know about this. All about it.' ”