The Westing Game

1. The Westing Game Resolution Caution: Spoilers Included!

2. Who was the thief? • Madame Hoo! P. 166

3. Who was the bomber? • Angela Wexler, trying to prevent her own wedding from taking place!

4. Character Parallels • Angela Wexler and D. Denton Deere • Violet Westing and her intended husband • Violet had been in love with … • George Theodorakis!

5. What is the answer to the Westing Game? Take a look at this passage from “America the Beautiful.”   O beautiful for spacious skies, For am___ waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above ____ fruited plain! America! Am______!God shed his grace on thee And ____n thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

6. “It is not what you have, it’s what you don’t have that counts!” (Sam Westing, p. 36)

7. What happens then, after Crow confesses? • Sandy McSouthers drops dead of an apparent heart attack!!! • The twist… Sandy is not really Sandy at all, but… • Sam Westing! • Sam Westing is not dead!

8. The Four Identities of Sam Westing • Identity #1: Sam Westing • Originally Windy Windkloppel • “The heir who wins the windfall will be the one who finds the …fourth!” p. 30 • Millionaire, Chairman of the Board of the Westing Paper Products Corporation • Ex-husband of Berthe Erica Crow, father of Violet Westing (deceased)

9. The Four Identities of Sam Westing • Identity #2: Sandy McSouthers • Sandy to Turtle: “Cheer up, my friend, the game’s not over. You can still win. I hope you do…. He winked at her when he said that. Winked! One eye winked! Dead Sandy had winked at her!” p. 156 • Sandy was the one continually adding to the will as the Westing Game progressed. He was also Theo’s chess opponent.

10. The Four Identities of Sam Westing • Identity #3: Barney Northrup • Turtle kicked Barney the day of Sandy’s “death,” but Sandy is the one who has the bruise! • Coincidence? I think not!!!!!!

11. The Four Identities of Sam Westing • Identity #4: Julian Eastman • Chairman of Westing Paper Products Corporation • Resides at #4 Sunrise Lane • Turtle presents herself to Julian once she has figured out the secret: • “Hi, Sandy. I won!”

12. The End Result • The heirs inherit the deed to Sunset Towers • Crow gets some money: $10,000 forfeited at the will reading, two checks for $10,000 from J.J. Ford and Sandy McSouthers • Turtle goes on to become chief legal counsel for Westing Paper Products—and Sam Westing’s best friend!

13. In the Future… • Marriages: • Otis Amber and Berthe Crow • Turtle Wexler and Theo Theodorakis • Angela Wexler and D. Denton Deere • Chris Theodorakis and Shirley Staver • Sydelle Pulaski and Mr. Schultz (Schultz Sausage Company)

14. In the Future… • Professional Accomplishments… • Angela and D. Denton Deere both become accomplished doctors • Doug Hoo wins two Olympic gold medals • James Hoo invents Little Foot Eze and becomes rich • Grace runs the “Who’s on First” franchise • Chris recovers and discovers a new bird species

15. In the Future… • Promotions • J.J. Ford gets promoted to the U.S. Supreme Court • Jake Wexler gets a job with the state gambling commission • Madame Hooor “Sunny” becomes acculturated and is accepted into the group

16. In the Future… • Altruism: • Crow and Otis Amber run the Good Salvation Soup Kitchen • Turtle continues to visit with Sam Westing until he finally dies, as the sun is rising on the Fourth of July

17. In the Future… • Children: • Alice Deere, daughter of Angela and Denton • Spends Saturday afternoons playing chess with her aunt Turtle… T.R. Wexler, the multi-millionaire!