The “mistake” in The Westing Game was actually a carefully orchestrated part of Sam Westing’s plan; it was Turtle Wexler herself, whom he intended to lead to the truth.
The Westing game is a complex puzzle, isn’t it? We often find ourselves wondering who was the mistake in the Westing game. The novel presents multiple suspects, each with secrets.
But what if the error wasn’t a person who messed up but rather a person chosen to find the answers? That’s where the real intrigue begins. The game was designed to make one person win.
Who Was the Mistake in The Westing Game?
The question of “who was the mistake” in The Westing Game is a big one, isn’t it? It’s not as simple as pointing a finger at one character. We need to think like detectives, just like the characters in the book, and look at all the clues. Sam Westing, the mysterious millionaire, sets up a game with a group of seemingly random people. He claims that one of them is his mistake, someone who ruined his life. But, was there really a mistake? Or was it something else entirely? Let’s dive in and figure this out together!
The Initial Suspects
At the start of the game, everyone is suspicious of everyone else. Each of the sixteen heirs has a reason to believe they might be the mistake, or that another person is the mistake. Let’s go through some of the top suspects:
Violet Westing
Violet, Sam Westing’s daughter, is a prime example of someone who could be seen as the “mistake” by Westing himself. Her tragic story, where she was engaged to someone she didn’t love, leading to her supposed suicide, is a sad one. Westing might have felt responsible for her misery or blamed someone for influencing her decision, which led him to create this game in the first place. She’s the reason for the game, in a way.
Possible reason: Her unhappiness and death, which are indirectly linked to a family situation.
Connection to Westing: She’s Westing’s daughter.
Why She Might Be the “Mistake”: Her unhappiness and ultimate death was something that haunted Sam. He might have considered that he should have intervened in her life in a different manner.
The Heirs
Each heir also has a potential reason to be the “mistake” in the eyes of Sam Westing.
Grace Wexler: She’s always concerned about status and money. She also has a habit of being controlling. Could Westing have seen her as a mistake because of her focus on superficial things?
James Shin Hoo: He’s always angry and bitter. Did his bitterness contribute to something that Westing held against him?
Jake Wexler: A podiatrist who doesn’t seem to fit in with the others. Could his lack of ambition be seen as a mistake?
Berthe Erica Crow: The cleaning lady. Is she involved in something that Westing held against her?
Flora Baumbach: A sweet old woman with a sad past. She might be tied to Violet’s past, thus being the possible mistake.
Denton Deere: The medical intern who is very focused on his career and not the people around him.
Otis Amber: The delivery boy who has a strange connection to the other heirs and a odd job.
Judge J.J. Ford: She has ties to Sam Westing and tries to use her wisdom to solve the game.
Sydelle Pulaski: This unique woman is always looking for attention and she can be considered as the mistake of Sam Westing.
Angela Wexler: She is the elder daughter of Grace Wexler and always pressured by her mother to be perfect.
Chris Theodorakis: A young bird watcher, who is also observing people. He is connected with the events around the westing house.
Theo Theodorakis: A young boy who is very protective of his brother. He is trying to solve the mystery as well as taking care of his brother.
Doug Hoo: The son of James Shin Hoo. He is also the athletic one in the group and always running errands.
Sandy McSouthers: A doorman at the Westing apartment and has a connection to the group.
Each of these people has secrets, hidden motivations, and a past that could make them a suspect for the so-called mistake in Westing’s life.
The Red Herrings and Misdirection
Raskin, the author, is fantastic at throwing us off the trail! Throughout the book, we get all sorts of hints that could point to one person or another, making it hard to pinpoint one single “mistake.” These hints are known as red herrings, and they lead us on a wild goose chase. It is a classic mystery technique and very efficiently used in The Westing Game.
The Newspaper Articles: We see little bits of information in newspaper articles that seem to accuse people. But are they true?
The Clues: The clues themselves are confusing and sometimes seem to point in different directions. It’s all part of Westing’s game.
The Character Relationships: Some of the characters appear to dislike each other, making us think that those could be the ones Westing wanted to punish.
All these misdirections make us look harder at everyone, so we never quite know who Westing is trying to expose or why. It keeps us guessing all the way to the end.
The True “Mistake”
As the game goes on and clues are slowly uncovered, it becomes increasingly clear that the “mistake” is not a person at all. Instead, it’s about the perception and idea of being a mistake. Sam Westing created the game not to punish someone, but to help the heirs heal. He wanted them to learn about themselves and each other. The actual “mistake” was his own perception of the circumstances surrounding his life and Violet’s death. He believed he was wronged and therefore, someone was to be blamed. However, there was no one to be blamed; no single “mistake” to find.
The Importance of Transformation: All the characters change through the game. They learn to be less selfish, build bonds, and to help each other. It’s clear that the true game was about personal growth and not blaming others.
The Power of Perspective: The idea of “mistakes” is very much about perspective. What one person sees as a mistake, another may see as an opportunity.
The Legacy of Sam Westing: He used his power to help people. He helped the heirs, including his former friends, as well as Angela, Sydelle, and Chris to have a better life.
The Real Mystery: Sam Westing’s Intentions
The mystery at the heart of The Westing Game isn’t really about who the mistake is. The real question is why Sam Westing created this game in the first place.
Healing and Redemption: After his daughter Violet’s death and his own disappearance for 13 years, Sam Westing might be thinking about his own past and regrets. Westing wants to give the heirs a chance to heal, grow, and overcome their problems and insecurities.
Finding Community: He may have seen the potential in all the heirs, but he felt that they were isolated. He wanted to connect them with each other, make them bond, and find a community they were missing.
A Sense of Purpose: Sam Westing, after all his successes and wealth accumulation, still wanted to achieve something more for the world around him. He might have felt that this could be his true legacy.
In the end, the game was less about exposing a mistake and more about creating something positive and meaningful out of what seemed like a negative situation.
The Importance of Looking Beyond the Surface
The Westing Game teaches us a valuable lesson: things are not always what they seem. We need to look beyond the surface, dig deep, and ask questions. Just like the heirs in the story, we must be detectives in our own lives.
Hidden Motives: Everyone has their own motivations and secrets. Just because someone seems a certain way, it doesn’t mean they are what they appear to be on the surface.
Challenging Assumptions: We should never assume things to be true without actually looking at the evidence and thinking critically.
The Power of Cooperation: The heirs work together to solve the mystery, and that’s how they find the truth. Cooperation is key to solving the puzzle.
By paying attention to the details, questioning what seems obvious, and working together, we can uncover the real truth.
The Metaphor of the Game
The game is a giant metaphor for life. It shows how people interact, how they make mistakes, and how they learn from them.
The Importance of Choice: The heirs must make choices, some good, some bad. These choices affect the outcome of the game and impact their lives.
The Value of Learning: Through their experiences in the game, the heirs learn important life lessons.
The Power of Connection: Connecting with others is very important, just as the heirs had to do to solve the mystery.
Sam Westing’s game isn’t just a fun little story; it’s a way to examine how we live our lives and the connections we make with others.
Ultimately, the concept of “the mistake” in The Westing Game is a red herring. No single person is the mistake. Instead, the game was a carefully planned exercise in growth and understanding. It was about helping the heirs look past the surface, recognize their own strengths, and build lasting bonds with each other. Sam Westing didn’t seek to punish a wrongdoer but to mend broken spirits. The true mystery of the book is not about who is to blame, but about how people can change for the better through connection, reflection, and a bit of clever game-playing. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes the greatest lessons come from looking beyond the surface and embracing the complexities of life.
We Recommend: The Westing Game
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the “mistake” was not a person, but the game itself. Sam Westing designed a complex puzzle. He manipulated many players through his will. Who was the mistake in the Westing Game becomes the question each character struggles with.
The game reveals that no single person is “the mistake.” Each player was part of Sam’s larger plan. They all had to play their roles. The Westing game must be seen as a test.
The real point was about growth, relationships and legacy.
