“The Palace Thief” develops many central ideas through the encounters between Hundert and the members of the Bell family. The incidents shape the idea that across the novella expectations play an important role to the characters and reinforce the writing to give the reader a better understanding of a central idea. Most of the central idea has developed through the use of conflict and interaction between the sly and cunning Bells and the humble Mr. Hundert.This central idea has spanned from the beginning of the novel from the initial interactions between Hundert and Senator Bell to the second initiation of the “Mr. Julius Caesar” competition. Thus, through the use of interaction and conflict between Mr.Hundert and the Bells a central idea …show more content…
For instance, during the encounter between Senator Bell and Hundert. Hundert’s expectations were deeply let down. Hundert even states, “I was shocked … ‘how deeply the viper is a viper…” by this point, Hundert had not expected further betrayal from Sedgewick. Hundert seriously underestimates how much of a ‘viper’ Sedgewick is and let his guard down because he originally anticipated Sedgewick to act better than he did (Canin 173). Also, Hundert’s interactions with Sedgewick develop the central idea of Hundert’s expectations of himself. After the “Mr.Julius Caesar” competition, Hundert lets his expectations of himself down immensely when he makes the decision not to accuse Sedgewick of cheating. He even states, “I myself would have stood up for our principles…” this shows that if it was not for Woodbridge and the presence of Senator Bell, Hundert would have followed his principles and done the right thing (Canin 169). Hundert knew his morals, and expectations of himself and knows about his duties as a person, yet because of Sedgewick’s influence he lets himself down. Another instance where Hundert let’s himself down because of Sedgewick Bell is during the reinitiation of the “Mr. Julius Caesar”