“When I think about me and my capacity and my capabilities and all of the things I’ve been able to do,...”
How does someone become this self-deluded (and Pugh is merely an example of many)? This idiot performed dismally as mayor, failed at relatively small-time grifting, then humiliated herself faking illness, badly, to wriggle off the hook; yet, none of that can shake her belief in her incredible abilities and value. Pugh reminds me of Nero, lamenting his forced suicide as a tragic loss to Art.
I was thinking the same thing. “How, HOW could my incredible intelligence and willingness to serve get such a selfless and giving person like me into a terrible situation like this?”