Student Question
In The Westing Game, which character claims partial credit for Mr. Hoo's paper innersoles invention and why?
Quick answer:
Sandy takes credit for the invention of paper innersoles for shoes. His feet were killing him, due to his standing at the door all day, and so he expressed the hope that someone would one day invent a good innersole that didn't take up as much room as the foam-rubber variety.
Strictly speaking, Sandy, whatever he might think, did not actually invent paper innersoles. That distinction belongs to Mr. Hoo. His paper innersoles are simply the latest of his inventions. He also invented the disposable paper diaper, for which he sued Mr. Westing in court. Westing never showed up, but an out-of-court settlement for $25,000 was reached.
When Sandy says that he takes credit for the invention, what he means is that he came up with the original idea behind it. One day, his feet were killing him, due to his standing at the door all day. (Sandy is a doorman.) It was then that he said to Mr. Hoo that he wished that someone could invent a good innersole that didn't take up quite as much room as the foam-rubber variety.
Sandy evidently thinks that he put the germ of an idea into Mr. Hoo's head and that he therefore shares the credit for his subsequent invention of paper innersoles. That's stretching things just a bit, but in any case, Mr. Hoo comes up with another great invention, one from which Sandy benefits enormously.
Sandy is so impressed with his paper insoles that he wants to take off his shoes and show them to the judge. But as the judge is eating, he politely declines the offer.
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