So, I was nosing around the gang's tents and I thought that it was honestly so sweet that so many of them have photographs of themselves or of family right?
Little baby Charles with his parents, a young Susan, young Hosea and Bessie, but then I found something interesting in that pile of junk down the cliff just behind Arthur's tent-
Dutch actually writes notes for his famous camp speeches.
And if you've seen the speech that these notes are referring to, Dutch seemed to simplify it a lot when he recited it, almost dumbing it down for the gang entirely?
Writing notes for an important speech isn't the strange part, but the fact he dumbs them down and that these notes are hidden/thrown away out of sight is really strange to me. It makes me think that this is possibly a rough draft or early version of what he wanted the speech to be, sort of implying that Dutch practices and revises his speeches.
Which, if he ultimately dumbs them down for the gang, then what is the point?
The likely answer is that he holds himself to a higher standard because he feels he's above the gang members, in a way. He's the visionary, the leader, the man in charge, the one who reads philosophy books almost exclusively, to say that Dutch didn't think highly of himself would be a lie. And because the gang is 'below' him, he simplifies his speeches for them - despite majority of the gang being well educated and understanding. He doesn't think that the gang is as intellectual as him.
I made a post previously talking about Dutch and his Evelyn Miller philosophies and how he argues with gang members that don't agree or understand. It's especially interesting how Lenny, also an avid reader, disagrees so strongly with Miller's writings when that's what most of Dutch's philosophies are based on.
It solidifies that Dutch was manipulative from the beginning, and probably long before too.
I like to think that the only reason Otto doesn't flirt with Branch is because he considers Branch too young for him but not like in a "oh sweetie I'm too old for you" type of way but in a "Ew who let this 16 year old in" type of way. Like Otto seems like the type to absolutely despise kids in public spaces, and even tho Branch his NOWHERE considered a child, Otto still treats him like that. Aka, "Why did they even let you in here?" "I'm 25."
Otto isn't scared of the bros... He's scared of Poppy 😳 ... but don't give him too much credit
that post is actually really huge for me but i do have to speak my truth: despite the bat symbolism i do believe in my heart that tim wouldn’t be the vampire in the situation. in fact kon being a vampire can highlight the fact that tim is enough of a freak about him that he would willingly be a blood bag <- who said that