Question

How does Judson Webb cause his own death in "Ruthless"? Be sure to identify the most important lines of dialogue or events in the story and explain how they cause an important decision or action to take place.

Answer 1

In the story "Ruthless" by William DeMille the main character, Judson Webb, putts two pellets of rat poison in one of his bottles of whiskey witch he unknowingly drinks at the end of the story. Throughout the story, Judson's wife tries to discourage Judson from leaving the poisoned drink there for the thief to find it. She makes several points before eventually giving up; she says things like; "it’s murder", “The law doesn’t punish burglary by death; so what right have you”,  “But all they did was to steal a little liquor”, and “We won’t be here till next spring. I can’t bear to think of that deathtrap waiting there all the time. Suppose something happens to us — and no one knows.” but Judson doesn't listen, and his wife eventually ends up being right in her worries when Alec accidentally feeds the poisoned whiskey to Judson. Judson put the rat poison in the whiskey in the first place because last winter someone broke into his house while he was away an stole some of his liquor. Judson says that it doesn't matter that the thief only stole "a little liquor," he says that “If a man holds me up and robs me of five dollars it makes me just as sore as if he took a hundred. A thief’s a thief,” he feels that he has the right to set a death trap for the thief because he stole something from him, it doesn't matter what he stole, its more Judson's pride that is on the line less than his booze. At the end of the story, Judson remembers his hunting boots that are drying on a table on the porch, he goes to but them away when he steps on an acorn, slips and hits his head on the table as he falls. when he comes to, Alec is reassuring him that he's fine and was simply knocked out for a moment as he gives him a glass of whiskey to drink. Judson is still dazed so he doesn't think to wonder whether or not it is his poisoned whiskey, it is implied that it is. if Judson hadn't poisoned the whiskey and had listened to his wife, then he wouldn't have died, sometimes it is best to let things go and to not seek revenge on those who have only slightly wronged you.

Answer 2

Answer:

Judson Webb died by drinking a bottle of whiskey that contained two tablets of rat poison.

Explanation:

Ruthless is an exceptional story written by William de Mille. Judson Webb is one of the main characters of this story. The author elaborates on how Judson kills himself after he leaves his camp in the mountains.

The main theme of this story is that any act of revenge has its devastating drawbacks. One can not shake this feeling off and sooner or later gets punished for their wrong doings.

Judson is shown to be very evil and his wife fears him.