What made Mr. Gowan at ease in the end?

[Naila Saleem 2]

What made Mr. Gowan at ease in the end, after the freedom building was burnt down to the ground? That he had faith nobody but him would be the next architect? Or was he finally satisfied that the Freedom Building which had become a symbol of hypocrisy and conspiracy to him overtime was no more?

[Rodel Barnachea]

I believe it is the latter that is the reason why John seems to be at ease/satisfied. It's also because he wanted to get revenge on Pete and Zenith for betraying him and telling the public that John is not the original architect of the Freedom building.

[Amy Luman]

I think the he was really at peace with the building being gone. He knew that there was no way he wouldn't be jailed for his actions. There was no way he'd be the architect and he knew it.

[Abi McCoy]

I think it could have been a mix of the two, but was likely more due to him finally being satisfied that the Freedom Building was no longer a symbol of hypocrisy. His major breakthrough in the book came during that television interview when he realized how he actually felt and vocalized it. Though with the building's destruction, it seems that it might cause even more conspiracy now.

[Desi Lemman]

I believe that both could have contributed to his satisfaction. But the one that seems the most reasonable was the knowledge that he wasn't the true architect and he would rather be living a lie and have the building standing than giving credit to who deserves it.

[Ethan Howe]

I think he didn't like it that the building was gone but this made him free and at ease because he was betrayed by Pete and Zenith and his vengeance was satisfied.

[Inge van Tonder]

I think the building being gone was to be rid of the hypocrisy of it all. People making it a symbol for which he did not care, people thinking he was not the real architect. Feeling betrayed and humiliated.

[Jolaade Idowu]

I think the reason he felt at ease was because of the latter. His building represented the freedom he felt from the attack and doesn't depict the freedom of society as everyone else suggested.

[usef nahg]

He was glad that the building was gone because it made him free and at ease. I think he also felt like he had gotten his revenge.

[Timothy Rucinski]

When the first building burned to the ground, John earned a blank slate from which to create a new building, channeling the passion gained from his freedom. With the second, it's a similar situation, but one in which he had total control, the same way in which he had burned his college designs. He seemed to be most at ease when he was in the process of creating something unique. The destruction of the building, in a way, is also a creation of something unique, and a method by which to ease his mind. Interestingly, his freedom to create the destruction would ultimately result in his loss of freedom with supposed incarceration. Yet, as a reader, I feel that even John behind bars would be freer than he had been, perhaps able to experience a burst of creativity that would overshadow everything else he had produced up to that time.

[asteel18]

In my opinion, John was free from pretending. He didn't care what would happen to himself as a consequence because, for him, it was better than the life he was living (or suffering through).

[Harsh Soni 3]

I think he was in at ease because this building became the symbol of hypocrisy and humiliation for him. And after the building was burnt down, he feels like he takes revenge from Pete and Zenith as they betray him.

[Elendu Ekechukwu]

He felt really satisfied and at ease when the building was burnt down. He couldn't stand anyone taking the glory for the building

[Susan Kihleng]

I got the feeling that he experienced relief at that point, like he knew that was the only way to finally be at peace and move on with his life. In all his delusions, he sincerely believed he was doing the right thing.

[Chijindu Ifedigbo]

He became satisfied when the building was burnt to the ground. The believed that he would be jailed for his actions which made him to feel humiliated.