Analysis of Matts Character in The Descendants Novel - Essay Example

According to the Dictionary of Common Philosophical Terms ethics are defined as; “the branch of philosophy that investigates and creates theories about the nature of right and wrong, duty, obligation, freedom, virtue, and other issues where sentient beings can be harmed or helped.” (Quizlet, 2013) Matt King is a middle-aged Hawaiian. He runs a trust that takes care of real estate worth millions of dollars. This property is passed down to him and among his cousins. As he plans to sell the property and make millions of dollars for his family, his wife suffers an injury in a boat accident and goes into a coma.

He tries to get his family together and starts to live without his wife. Then suddenly he learns that his wife had been having an affair. He has his two daughters and the elder’s dumb boyfriend with him. He sets off in the search of the man that his wife was having an affair with. If Matt had acted any other way than he did with his wife’s lover, he would have crossed the boundaries of ethics. His behavior can be put to the ethical test as; There is a reason why Matt qualifies as an ethical person.

Mathew forgives his wife. When Matt becomes aware of his wife’s affair he gets mad like any husband would. He tries to confront the person involved in the affair but when he reaches the hospital where his wife is in a coma he breaks down. He tries to talk to his unconscious wife as if trying to confront and talk about it. He is very emotional at that point. The reader gets the impression as if he has forgiven his wife. When he is alone with his wife and it is almost time for her to sleep forever, Matt gets closer to his wife and kisses her on the lips.

He brushes her hair and says goodbye. It is only obvious that he has forgiven her. If I use publicity test, Matt will pass. Reading a headline saying that Elizabeth, Matt King’s wife had an affair with a man named Brian would have destroyed both the families. It was Matt who prevented it. Ethically Matt did everything right by forgiving and keeping the matter under the hat. Matt wants to find Brian to tell him that Elizabeth will die soon.