Zoë Heller: What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal

[SFG75]

In our book of the month pick Lolita(We miss you Peder!)there was a big discussion as to whether or not Lo was more....shall we say assertive?, in regards to "chasing" Humbert. Was she innocent or....well, not so? The same type of thing can be seen with our young Connolly lad. There is a reference to him keying in on his teacher's affection for him and playing up to it according to Babs. The hinting lines:

But that he sensed hte anthropological dimension of Sheba's interest in him and played up to it, I have no doubt.

There is on the next page, a scene where the teacher playfully rubs his head.

Connolly closed his eyes and smiled. "Do that again, Miss," he said.

So is he the prey or the venus fly trap? Or does it matter? He's a minor, an obviously conflicted person, and someone who doesn't know any better while his teacher should've.

 

[Anamnesis]

I think Connolly was manipulating Sheba all along. His behavior towards the end of the novel made it clear that he wasn't an innocent who was seduced by Sheba. Yes, Sheba should have known better than to sleep with a minor, but Connolly was not a victim at all.

 

[SFG75]

Sheba's character definitely came off as being "young at heart" to a fault. She may have been older, but she wasn't that far ahead of her students in regards to emotional intelligence and poise. She did have an incredible ability to deflect slights and other verbal charges from Babs. Her older mentor didn't show that much stability herself in trying to ridicule Sheba in front of the other faculty.