Stealing and Atonement — Important Questions

Fifteen years old

The text states 'The other theft was committed when I was fifteen.' This refers to the theft of gold from his brother's armlet, which Gandhi describes as much more serious than the earlier theft of coins at age twelve or thirteen. The age specification helps readers understand the timeline of Gandhi's moral development and shows that even at fifteen, he was still making mistakes but was more capable of serious moral reflection. The other ages mentioned are either for the earlier, less serious theft or not mentioned at all.

Twenty-five rupees

The text clearly states that 'This brother had run into a debt of about twenty-five rupees.' This specific amount provides context for why Gandhi felt compelled to help by stealing gold from the armlet. Twenty-five rupees would have been a significant amount during that time period, making the debt a serious family concern. The exactness of this detail in Gandhi's memory shows the impact this incident had on him. The other amounts are not mentioned in the text and would either underestimate or overestimate the debt's significance.

He cried and tore up the letter

The text describes the father's reaction in detail: 'He read it through, and tears trickled down his cheeks, wetting the paper. For a moment he closed his eyes in thought and then tore up the note.' This peaceful, loving response instead of anger or punishment taught Gandhi about Ahimsa. The father's tears showed both pain and love, and his act of tearing up the letter symbolized forgiveness and closure. The other options contradict the text - he didn't scold, beat, or ignore Gandhi, but responded with pure love and forgiveness.

A clean confession combined with a promise never to repeat the sin

Gandhi explicitly states in the text: 'A clean confession, combined with a promise never to commit the sin again, is the purest type of repentance.' This definition combines honesty (clean confession) with genuine resolution to change (promise never to repeat). This two-part formula shows that true repentance requires both acknowledgment of wrongdoing and commitment to moral improvement. The other options represent incomplete forms of repentance - silent regret lacks communication, asking forgiveness without commitment to change is superficial, and accepting punishment without confession misse