I don't agree that his decisions are irrational. Adam is irrational.....right now, Liz is irrational. But Willie's decisions are just....simpleminded. He can think a thing thru quite carefully from A to B....but as soon as C happens, he can't think his way around it.
Getting Maggie out of harms way required getting her out of town. He tried to convince her to go herself. He even thought about the expense and tried to hand her money.
(Where did he get that fifty, I wonder? Has Barnabas been direct depositing his pay in the Collinsport First Credit all these months and months?)
When she refused to go, he knew he had to get her out of that house by force. He knew she wouldn't go quietly so he recognised the need for the chloroform. He knew he had to hide her to keep her safe so he chose the most secret place he could think of.
The part he didn't think through was that she would refuse to believe him. He didn't think about the fact that she doesn't really understand how much he loves her. When you're telling someone you love the absolute truth, and desperately trying to save their life, it's hard to comprehend their refusal to believe you.
Willie's not irrational....please, next to Barnabas, Julia and Adam, he's the Voice of Reason!
He's just not quite smart enough to pull off what he knows needs to be done.
Raineypark