Chapter 12
The Father-Suitor Confrontation

Some conversations aren't really conversations—they're interrogations disguised as dialogue. Dr. Sloper sits down with Morris not to understand him, but to expose him. He's already made his judgment; now he's gathering evidence to support it. This is the pattern of righteous interrogation: when someone with power uses questions not to learn, but to prove they were right all along. The mechanism is seductive because it feels like fairness. Dr. Sloper gives Morris every chance to defend himself, listens to his protests about pure love and willingness to work hard. But notice how he responds—not with genuine consideration, but with clinical dismissal. He's not processing new information; he's waiting for Morris to hang himself with his own words. The doctor holds all the cards: social position, financial control over Catherine, and the moral high ground of 'protecting' his daughter. Morris can't win because the game was rigged from the start. This plays out everywhere today. The job interview where they've already decided you're overqualified but go through the motions anyway. The performance review where your boss lists your accomplishments before explaining why you won't get promoted. The family dinner where your uncle asks about your life choices, nodding thoughtfully while mentally preparing his lecture about responsibility. The doctor's appointment where the physician has already decided you're drug-seeking but asks about your pain level anyway. When you recognize righteous interrogation, don't play their game. You can't win a rigged conversation through better arguments. Instead, ask direct questions: 'Have you already made your decision?' or 'What would change your mind?' If they can't answer honestly, you know you're wasting your breath. Save your energy for people who actually want to understand you, not prove you wrong. Sometimes the smartest move is to stop defending yourself to someone who's already made up their mind. When you can spot the difference between genuine inquiry and righteous interrogation—and respond accordingly—that's amplified intelligence working for you.