Questions & Answers

'Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police'

A. Comprehension :

Q.1. According to Gansberg, how much time elapsed between the first stabbing of Kitty Genovese and the time when the people finally came out?

ANSWER : Approximately an hour and 5 minutes elapsed.

Q.2. What excuses do the neighbors make for not coming to Kitty Genovese's aid?

ANSWER : When asked why they didn't call the police, the residents made excuses such as being tired, not wanting to get involved, or that they didn't know.

B. Purpose and Audience

Q.3. This article appeared in 1964. What effect was it intended to have on its audience? Do you think it has the same impact today, or has its impact changed or diminished?

ANSWER : This article was intended to urge people to call the police to help if they notice something wrong instead of deciding not to get involved or assuming that someone else would take care of it. The article remains impactful today; for many, especially those living in densely populated areas, hearing screams or shouting at night can become so common that residents may be inclined to ignore it. This article serves as a helpful reminder to stay vigilant and ready to help those who may need it.

Q.4. What is the article's main point? Why does Gansberg imply his thesis rather than state it explicitly?

ANSWER : Gansberg's main point is that the victim may have survived if the spectators had called the police or otherwise intervened. The thesis becomes clear throughout the article and can be easily implied without being explicitly stated. This is achieved by Ginsberg pointing out how the attack was carried out during three separate attacks, describing the lights of those watching scaring the assailant away, and including the interviews of the bystanders.

Q.5. What is Gansberg's purpose in describing the Austin Street area as "staid, Middle class, tree-lined?

ANSWER : Gansberg described the Austin Street area as "staid, middle-class, tree-lined" because he wants to point out this is a white town and neighbors maybe have a higher education but they did not call the police while the murder is happening.

Q.6. Why do you suppose Gansberg provides the police department's phone number in his article? (Note that New York City did not have 911 emergency service in 1964.)

ANSWER : Providing this number could be interpreted as a passive aggressive, sarcastic choice; it is clear from the included interviews that the bystanders had other reasons for not calling the police than simply not knowing how to reach them.