He draws a line under his conclusions. Says, 'Gregory, what should I do about the great worm?' 'Send a commission against it, sir,' the boy says. 'It must be put down.' He gives his son a long look. 'You do know it's Arthur Cobbler's tales?' Gregory gives him a long look back. 'Yes, I do know.' He sounds regretful. 'But it makes people so happy when I believe them.
In this excerpt from Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up the Bodies," the conversation revolves around the metaphorical dilemma posed by the "great worm." The father grapples with the significance of taking action against it, reflecting on his son's suggestion to address the issue through a commission. This implies a larger theme of confronting painful truths, even when those truths may disrupt the comfort of beliefs.
Gregory, the son, acknowledges the fable's fictional...
