Essay Questions

Is Shiver calling for responsible parenting to combat societal violence among the youths?

'We Need to Talk About Kevin’ is a fictional book, but it depicts what is happening in modern society. Contemporary society is characterized by youth violence, drug abuse, and immorality. The rate at which youths engage in violence is alarming, and all this is blamed on poor parenting. Parents are occupied with their careers, giving little attention to their children, which provides leeway for their weird behaviors. Kevin is the main character, and he is involved in multiple murders alongside his friends. The author explicitly mentions psychological disorders, bullying, and other motives as the leading causes that force youths to engage in mass murders. Therefore, the author is requesting parents to take their time and pay attention to their children to combat the unending violence.

How virtuous is forgiveness, according to Shiver?

According to the Bible, human beings are commanded to forgive numberless times, but it is difficult in reality. Most of the offended people choose to revenge. In the book 'We Need to Talk About Kevin,' the author demonstrates the aptitude to pardon when a victim's mother forgives Kevin. Kevin is a murderer, and he killed the mother's son, who extended the hand of forgiveness to him. Most people related to the victims Kevin has murdered are looking for his blood because they cannot rest until Kevin is punished. However, the author illustrates that living with hate is the worse life experience. Therefore, forgiveness is a gift, and it enables someone to move forward with ease.

Is Franklin's denial the leading cause why Kevin turned out to be a murderer?

Kevin is the son of Franklin and Eve, and from childhood, he depicts ignorance and bad behavior. However, Kevin innocently in front of his father, but he tortures his mother openly. Whenever Eve tries to raise the alarm about their son's behavior, Franklin remains defensive and says that Kevin is a good boy. Franklin continued this trend of defending his son when Eve complained about his behavior. Eventually, Franklin divorces Eve because she is a bad mother. In the end, Kevin turns out to be a murderer. As the title suggests, there is a need to talk about Kevin, but Franklin ignores it, and the consequences are evident.