OnlineBookClub.org

Before moving to the trailer camp, McDowell was almost caught in New Orleans when he was in that concert tent. With the Kitsy incident, he had more time to flee; I doubt he didn't know the risks of staying.

I don't think he was prepared to die, but maybe he was tired of running. His memoir was done. What do you think?

I hadn't really thought about it. I do think he wanted to be "done" with the running. On the other hand, I don't know that he could've handled going back to prison. I doubt that he expected a shootout would end it all.

I think he thought he had sufficiently covered his tracks with his new identity and he miscalculated Kitsy's loyalty to him a stranger.

I think McDowell didn't have time to run. He did not wish to die after all that he had done to stay alive. The circumstances no longer were in his favor and he got entrapped and finally killed.

May be he got tired of hiding and running.

I agree that he was more than likely tired of running. But, I don't think he was ready to die. He struggled for food, and basically everything he used to have in abundance in that last half of the book, but he seemed to actually enjoy life more. He made friends, and seemed to appreciate the small things in life. If he was ready to die I don't think he would have tried so hard to hide, including his new identity.

He didn't run because he cared about Kitsy and wanted to stay around until she was out of danger. It's the action of a concerned doctor and shows how far he has come. The old Hiram might have saved her to show off his skill, but he wouldn't have stayed around afterwards. I think he had no intention of ending his life. He wanted to see his memoir published, he was enjoying his friendships, he had set up a new life. He had plans.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑17 Oct 2018, 19:56
I don't think he was prepared to die, but maybe he was tired of running. His memoir was done. What do you think?

Originally I would've said he didn't have time. I think he fell for Winnona and that he took it for granted that those who lived with would shelter him because that had been the case with Maud and the first lover. I don't think they could have got a message to him. I think he genuinely wanted to see it Kitsy made it, maybe that was the lingering arrogance in him.

Life as we see is delicate and need protection since it's has no duplicate, One should not take it for granted. I think he should not care for love and get tire of running for his dear life since he knows that enemies are not going back but hiding to get him. Dying and leaving the one he cares for(Kitsy) at this instance mean nothing to him since Hiram would have save her. Struggled for food in such a place mean he cares for substance and material things more than his dear life. And lastly he should be security concious no matter amount coverage

I thought he was running, but miscalculated that he would have time to collect his fake ID papers and memoir first.

Hiram knew this was coming for him sooner or later. He had completed his goal of writing his memoir. He had no purpose to flee. So he embraced his situation in the best way possible.

I don't think that McDowell knew the full risks of staying where he was. I think that he knew there was a risk of someone finding out his true identity when he went to the hospital but I don't think that he realized that it had happened until it was too late or he would have attempted to run. On the other hand, there is the possibility that he was tired of living a life on the run and since his memoir was finished he decided to stop running. I guess we will never know.

You may be right. His completion of his memoir might have been one of the reasons he was reluctant to run but I think it was his love for winona and concern for Kitsy's well being that made him hang around.He also might have been tired of running.

I think he was compelled to stay back because of passion for his job. Deep down was a man who enjoyed saving lives. I also think love was also a reason.