The Kite Runner Socratic Seminar Reflection #2

      The final seminar of the year influenced the way I understood the title of the story.  While doing the preparation for the seminar, I realized that the kite in the story symbolized both Amir’s happiness and his guilt because Amir enjoys flying kites as a boy, yet the kite running tournament is also what leads to Hassan’s rape.  One thing that was said which I hadn’t though of in depth was that Amir’s choice to save Sohrab was a way to redeem himself of not saving Hassan when he was a boy.  I though this statement was true because it seems as if Amir is reliving his childhood when he goes back to visit Afghanistan, but that he wishes to do it correctly.

      The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the most is that Baba follows his own code when it comes to morality.  I wholeheartedly agreed with this statement because there is a scene in the book where Baba discredits Muslim beliefs and instead teaches Amir that theft is the only sin.  The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the least is that Baba did not become more tolerant of Amir when they moved to California.  I disagreed with this statement because there are instances in the book where Baba brags about Amir’s writing, showing that he is becoming more lenient towards Amir’s dream.

      Some things that worked well for the seminar were the use of emotional appeals.  Because The Kite Runner is such an emotional book to begin with, the analysis of the text went even further into the relationships and feelings of the characters.  There was use of other rhetorical appeals in the seminar, but emotional appeals were by far the most prominent, and rightfully so.  The strong arguments appealing to emotion displayed the growth of the class discussion as a whole.

      Although the use of emotional appeals was strong, the seminar’s flow was terrible.  There were often long pauses in the conversation in which every person waited for somebody else to speak up.  The half time ended up taking place after about ten minutes because there was such poor cohesion in the conversation.  In my opinion, these long pauses were very odd because it seemed like every person has completed their preparation.  The poor flow of the conversation was an opportunity to learn when and how to speak up, and how to maintain an interesting topic.    

The Kite Runner Socratic Seminar Reflection #1

      The seminar influenced the way I thought about Amir’s relationship with Baba and Hassan.  While completing preparation for the seminar, I realized that Amir’s relationships with Baba and Hassan were almost opposite because while Amir tries hard to please Baba but maintains a distant relationship, he is very close with Hassan but tries not to give him too much credit.  One thing that was said which I hadn’t thought of in depth was how Assef might not actually be a good son of Baba’s despite their friendliness displayed in the book.  This might be true because Assef’s tendency to manipulate others and prove himself superior might clash with Baba’s manliness and duty as leader and protector.

      The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the most is that Amir is not a very likeable character due to his bullying of Hassan.  I found this statement to be true because in the story, Amir is constantly doing little things to prove himself superior to Hassan, like giving him the wrong definitions of words, or making fun of him.  Although there were small points that I may have disagreed with, I generally agreed with every statement made in the seminar, maybe because the story evoked the same emotional responses from my peers.  If I had the opportunity to add anything to the seminar, I would have mentioned that Amir’s belief that he should be superior to Hassan because Hassan is his servant.

      Surprisingly, some things that worked really well for the seminar were the use of emotional appeals.  On the surface, The Kite Runner is a story of social conflict, political turmoil, and new life in the USA.  However, beneath the surface, there is an entire dimension having to do with the relationships between Amir and Hassan, notably, Amir’s torturous guilt of never confessing the rape.  These emotional relationships in the books made up the majority of the conversation during the seminar, and therefore, the use of emotional appeals was a success for the first time.

      Some things that needed improvement in the seminar were the separation of people for the groups and lack of preparation.  The groups were split up by chance, and therefore, the first group ended up having many more people than the second one.  This was a problem because it changed the amount of speaking time people had in each group.  Another improvement that could be made was the lack of preparation.  Many people were very well prepared, but there were others who had clearly not studied the subject material beforehand.  This made it very difficult to include everyone I the seminar. 

1984 Socratic Seminar Preparation Sheet #4

Part I: Summarization

Winston and Julia are captured by the Thought Police and sent to prison.  Winston is brainwashed and tortured until he is forced to believe the ideology of the Party and love Big Brother.  His love for Julia is destroyed, as is her love for him. 

                                                                                                                                     

Part II: Question Development

What values does the Party fear?

When Ampleforth is put in jail with Winston, he says he was put there because he “allowed the word ‘God’ at the end of a line [of a poem].”  This shows that the Party fears religious devotion, as it might spur hope of revolution.  This contrasts with modern popular belief in the freedom of religion and the freedom to worship any god.  Ethical appeal.

What evidence suggests that criminals are still loyal to the Party?

When Winston asks who denounced Parsons, Parsons replies “‘It was my little daughter’…with a sort of doleful pride.”  This shows that even though Parsons is imprisoned, he still remains loyal to the Party by agreeing with his punishment.  Logical appeal.

What evidence suggests that Big Brother is not alive?

When Winston is in prison, he asks O’Brien if Big Brother is alive in the same way that he is, with arms and legs and u unique absolute location in space, to which O’Brien replies “It is of no importance.  He exists.”  This shows a certain level of doubt in O’Brien as he does not fully answer the question and tries to change the subject, suggesting that Big Brother might not be real.  Logical appeal.

What suggests that Oceania has hindered scientific progression?

O’Brien states that “The earth is the center of the universe.  The sun and the stars go round it.”  This ideology was an ancient thought prevalent before Renaissance times, and modern science shows that the sun is the center of the universe, which is the popular belief of all educated people.  Ethical appeal.

To what extent can the Party control humans?

When discussing future Party plans, O’Brien mentions that that “We shall abolish orgasm.”  This idea seems too farfetched for a government to exert on its people.  Therefore the Party is shown to be capable of controlling minds but its power is restricted concerning human instincts.  Logical appeal.

Based on the end of the book, is the authority of the Party really absolute?

The last words of the story are “[Winston] had won the victory over himself.  He loved Big Brother.”  This goes directly against Winston’s rebellious attitude towards the party before he was sent to prison and brainwashed.  This shows that humans are powerless in the face of the Party, and therefore that the party’s rule is unstoppable.  Logical appeal.

How strongly is human emotion influenced by other people?

Without the influence of other human beings, emotions such as love and pain cannot exist because they are impossible to apply to someone else.  Therefore, human contact is necessary for the development of emotion.  Emotional appeal.

Does human powerlessness actually exist?

Human powerlessness does exist because in the face of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, and tsunamis, humans cannot do much to prevent these tragedies.  In a way, despite the pollution and deforestation of the planet, humans will never be able to gain power of nature.  Logical appeal.

Are humans weaker or stronger in the face of death?

In the face of death, humans are stronger because they are forced to accept their imminent death, regardless of if they want it or not.  This takes a certain courage which is only accessible if one is really faced with life and death situations.  Logical appeal.

Part III: Tracking Evidence

“‘It was my little daughter,’ said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride.  ‘She listened at the keyhole.  Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day.  Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh?’” (Page 233)

“The beatings grew less frequent, and became mainly a threat, a horror to which he could not be sent back at any moment when his answers were unsatisfactory.” (Page 241)

1984 Socratic Seminar #3 Reflection

      The seminar influenced the way I thought about the fictional society of Oceania as a whole.  While talking about the three superstates, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia, I developed a better since of the fictional world Winston lives in, and how it came to be.  One thing said during the seminar which I hadn’t thought of in depth was a question concerning the possible nonexistence of Eurasia and Eastasia, meaning that Oceania would be the sole world power.  I thought that this could be true since there is evidence to support this.  For example, In Book Two, Julia says that she thinks the bombs dropped on Oceania are really bombs dropped by the Party to scare the citizens.

      The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the most is that the world of the Hunger Games would be a better society to live in than Oceania.  I agree with this statement because there is no constant surveillance of people in Panem, while in Oceania, the citizens are constantly watched.  The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the least is therefore that the world of Oceania would be a better than Panem because in Panem, you have a chance of dying.  I disagree with this statement because although there is a chance of dying in the games, this chance is very slight.  If I had the opportunity to add anything to the seminar, I would have pointed out that it is ironic that we are watched and assessed during the seminars just as the citizens of Oceania are supervised by telescreens.

      Some things that worked really well for the seminar were the use of emotional and logical appeals.  When talking about the love between Winston and Julia, there was a strong emotional feeling in the room, especially during a debate concerning the legitimacy of their love.  As always, logical appeals were also frequently used because they are by far the easiest of the three rhetorical devices.

      Some things that needed improvement were ethical appeals and participation.  Unfortunately, my prediction that ethical appeals would be more frequent did not come true.  Very few ethical appeals were made and in my opinion, these rhetorical appeals are not harder than emotional appeals.  Another issue in the seminar was participation.  Although most people participated, a select few clearly dominated the conversation while other were not left much time to contribute meaningfully.  

1984 Socratic Seminar #2 Reflection

      The seminar influenced the way I thought about the right for people to have privacy.  After having the seminar, I found myself asking many questions relating to this subject.  How much privacy is one allowed?  At one point does supervision become a violation of human rights?  These questions may have many different responses, and are not at all easy to answer.  One thing said in the seminar which I hadn’t thought of in depth before was how Big Brother could possibly not be a real person.  I thought this could be true, since it seems that nothing is directly carried out by him, but rather by his puppet ministry workers.

      The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the most is that the Party limits sex and sexual pleasure to enforce devotion to the government.  I agree with this because if people cannot be attached to each other, and are only brought up to love the government, it will be almost impossible to start a rebellion.  The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the least is that Big Brother is obviously a real person.  I disagree with this statement because there is absolutely no proof to concur that he exists.  If I had the opportunity to say anything else in the seminar, I would have mentioned the fact that Winston must write articles to honor a nonexistent person, which may imply that other people, such a Big Brother, do not exist either.

      Some things that worked really well for the seminar were the increasing use of emotional appeals and good question-asking.  Compared to the last seminar, there were a lot more statements made in which references from the text helped appeal to emotion instead of logic.  I thought this was definitely an improvement, although many logical appeals still dominated the conversation.  The seminar also brought about very thought-provoking questions that were applicable to our society today, such as the issue of privacy, totalitarian governments, and the effect of violence on children.

      Some things that needed improvement in the seminar were the use of ethical appeals and participation.  Because more emotional appeals were used in the second seminar than in the first, I feel confident that more ethical appeals will be used in the third seminar.  However, I cannot say the same for participation because in my opinion, many less people contributed in the second seminar than in the first.  This may have been due to lack of preparation, given that the seminar preparations are extensive.  However, I hope to see more people participate in the third seminar so that more ideas can be shared and analyzed.

1984 Socratic Seminar #1 Reflection

      The first seminar influenced my thinking by applying the themes of George Orwell’s 1984 to our current society.  Many comments were made on how the war, hangings, and appreciation of violence in the book compared to violent video games and the excitement of school fights in our world today.  Also, the subject of privacy was discussed, and the increasing prominence of targeted ads and email verification paralleled to the lack of privacy Winston experienced in the story.  One thing that was said which I hadn’t thought about so much before was how the name “Big Brother” was meant to sound protective and reassuring when in reality, Big Brother was an oppressive dictator.  This also could relate to our world today, as many authoritarian leaders are embraced by the people living under their rule.

      The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the most was that the Party’s regime very closely resembled that of Nazi Germany.  It was mentioned that the Two Minutes Hate rally was meant to turn the people of Oceania against soldiers resembling Jews and Asians.  This favoritism of a “superior” race was one of the main components of Hitler’s administration during World War II.  The statement made by one of my peers that I agree with the least was that the entire population of Oceania was brainwashed into supporting the government.  If I had the opportunity to respond to anything in the seminar, I would have responded to this question, saying that Winston’s revolutionary thoughts are proof of hatred towards the Party.

      Some things that went well in the seminar were extensive preparation, participation, and use of logical appeals.  Everyone in the seminar had obviously prepared, as excellent points and textual evidence were used throughout.  Also, almost everybody in the conversation made helpful contributions that in general, helped maintain the flow of the conversation.  Only one or two people did not fully engage in the seminar, and this may have been due to lack of preparation or shyness.  Finally, the use of logical appeals was very strong because most people referenced the text or their own lives to prove a point.

      Some things that needed improvement in the seminar were use of ethical and emotional appeals.  As the seminar was meant to practice the use of all three rhetorical devices, the lack or ethical and emotional appeals caused a sort of gap in the conversation that was never filled.  Some people, including myself, attempted to bring up an ethical or emotional argument, but the conversation always quickly steered away from the appeal.  Although the seminar was educative and gratifying, the use of these appeals could make the next seminar stronger.       

Othello Dramatic Reading Words and Actions Video

A. Delivery Technique

http://youtu.be/3A_OuQj-OAA

B. Statement of Intent

The passage I chose to read for my dramatic reading was Iago’s plot-twisting soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3.  I found this specific soliloquy remarkable because it reveals Iago’s duplicity and multi-sided personality – he appears to be supportive of Cassio but reveals himself to the audience as a villain in disguise.  To emphasize this disingenuous personality of Iago’s, I chose to switch the tone of the character midway through the speech, becoming dark and cunning as the character reveals his plan.  I included a slight pause before this tone shift to indicate Iago’s villainous side to the audience.  When speaking in Shakespearian, it is also crucial to put emphasis on important words, so that there is at least some comprehension of the archaic language.  This is why I chose to stress phrases like weak and divinity of hell, to demonstrate Iago’s hatred of Othello.  Lastly, I varied my inflection of each sentence in the soliloquy to keep the speech exciting and realistic.

By “becoming” Iago for a small period of time, I learned much about the character and the play as a whole.  I had realized in the start of the play that Iago was not an ordinary villain, as he masks his jealousy towards Othello and Cassio with kindness and amiability.  However, Iago’s willingness to share his plan brought about an outgoing aspect his personality that I had never before seen.  This openness differed greatly from Iago’s devious attitude up until that point, and it exposed a new dimension which I actually enjoyed.  This soliloquy also taught me the next phase of Iago’s ongoing plan to destroy Othello: while Cassio urges Desdemona to help him, and Desdemona urges Othello to forgive him, Iago will convince Othello that she “repeals him for her body’s lust,” meaning that Desdemona is helping Cassio not out of sympathy, but because she is in love with him. He believes that this will result in the downfall of all the other characters.

The impact of Iago’s Act 2 Scene 3 soliloquy on the play is that it further complicates the relationships between the characters.  Because Iago formulates his fatal plan in this soliloquy, it results in Othello’s suspicion of Cassio even though Cassio has done nothing to Desdemona.  It also paves the way to Othello’s distrust and infuriation towards Desdemona, which eventually leads to both characters’ deaths and Iago’s incarceration.  Furthermore, the soliloquy characterizes Desdemona and Cassio, giving the audience a better understanding of their dispositions.  The speech describes Desdemona as “fruitful as the free elements,” showing that she had a kind nature filled with undying goodness.  It also criticizes Cassio, calling him an “honest fool,” which suggests that he is slow and gullible.  While most of Iago’s monologues in Othello are rather impractical, his soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3 adds suspense to the plot as well as characterization of himself and others.         

Title Justification Paper #3: Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled

The last two chapters of The Other Wes Moore are grouped into one final section– Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled.  This section is undoubtedly the most defining moment of the novel, the one the reader has been waiting for.  From the beginning, the reader knows the fates of the two Wes Moores, but they are intrigued on how their lives will play out.  While chapter seven breezes over author Wes’s military recognition and the other Wes’s return to drugs, chapter eight is when the final life-altering murder occurs and the other Wes is sentenced to life in prison.  Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled is an appropriate name for this section because it focuses on both boys’ diverging paths as each does what is expected of him – the other Wes engaging in drugs and robberies to support his family and author Wes excelling in military schooling and receiving his Rhodes Scholarship.

The other Wes’s choice to turn back to drugs and rob the jewelry store was the result of the expectation to support his family.  At the end of chapter seven, the author writes that, “The pressure was wearing Wes down.  Alicia complained that he was not giving her enough money to provide for the kids they shared.  Cheryl was now constantly calling him about wanting more time with the kids – which meant she wanted more money to take care of them…Wes held the plastic bag with both hands and poured in nine ounces of cocaine.”  This quote shows that so many people depended on Wes to make money that he was almost forced to reenter the drug game.  Furthermore, in chapter eight, one of Wes’s jewelry-robbing accomplices is quoted saying, “‘I was told I could make fifty-thousand dollars just to break some glass.’”  This demonstrates that the robbery was motivated by Wes’s poverty, which he was expected to alleviate.  Because Wes was expected to provide for his family, he chose to take the wrong path which eventually ended in a heinous murder and prison.  By contrast, peoples’ expectations of author Wes were academic-based and eventually led to his good fortune in life.  In chapter eight, Wes recounts that, “[Mayor Schmoke] did more than just point me to the Rhodes Scholarship; he instructed me to learn the larger historical context of the world.”  This shows that along with his mother and teachers, Mayor Schmoke had expected great things of Wes, and Wes did not fail to impress him.

Because author Wes achieved success in trying to please his mentors, and the other Wes took a dangerous path in life to relieve his family’s poverty, Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled is a fitting name for section three.  The real question posed in this section is how and why the expectations for the boys differed, and how their fates would have changed if the expectations had been different.  Could their stories have been interchanged?  Who is there to blame for ruining the life of one Wes when another Wes with a parallel childhood excelled?  Perhaps Wes Moore leaves these questions to suggest to the reader that very little in life is solely determined by the person living it. 

Chapter 8: Surrounded

      ·         “A day later, another member of the crew was captured.  He also confessed to being at the scene but said that he was not the one who pulled the trigger.  In fact, he was later quoted as saying, ‘I was actually unarmed.  I was just told I could make fifty thousand dollars to break some glass.’” (Page 148)

This quote shows that no violence was intended in the jewelry store robbery that Wes was part of.  It demonstrates that the only motive of the crime was to get money, and therefore unveils that this crime, and many others in Baltimore at the time, were induced by poverty.

      ·         “And then one of the officers addressed the group.  ‘Y’all know there is a reward for Tony and Wes if you just tell us where they are.  It’s a lot of money.  You sure you don’t need that money?’” (Page 152)

This quote shows a police officer bribing some of Wes’s friends and family assuming their disadvantaged financial situations.  It illustrates a gap between the rich and the poor in Baltimore, and shows that richer people, such as the cop, believe that they can exploit the lower classes.

      ·         “North Philadelphia reminded Wes of the Baltimore neighborhood he had just left.  The check-cashing stores instead of banks, the rows of beauty salons, liquor stores, laundromats, funeral homes, and their graffiti-laced walls were the universal streetscape of poverty.  The hood was the hood, no matter what city you were in.” (Page 153)

This passage explains that the stereotypical infrastructure of poverty extended across all U.S. cities.  Judging from this, it seems that segregation appears in cities between the nicer parts of town and the “hood” that contains dilapidated shops and services.

      ·         “The truth is that there are two Baltimores.  Almost every other major city in this country leads the same double life.  Those who brag about Baltimore often ignore these substandard areas.  Yet these were the areas Mayor Schmoke knew would determine his legacy of success or failure.” (Pages 158-159)

This quote explains how Baltimore and other U.S. cities are divided between a rich and middle class section and a poor, less developed section.  The quote shows that it is crucial to integrate these areas, especially under a political leader such a Schmoke, so that all of the people in a city can thrive.

      ·         “As I moved closer to the home where my host family lived, I couldn’t stop staring at the shantytown.  Living in the Bronx and Baltimore had given me the foolish impression that I knew what poverty looked like.  At that moment, I realized I had no idea what poverty was – even in West Baltimore we lived like kings compared with this.” (Pages 165-166)

In this quote, Wes explains how visiting a slum in South Africa made him realize how poverty in the U.S. was not nearly as severe as in other places of the world.  This shows that poverty is only a notion that can always be considered better than the situation of others.  In a way, the quote gives hope by saying that even dreadful conditions are not so bad in scope.   

Chapter 7: The Land That God Forgot

      ·         “When you step on the court with players like Kobe Bryant or six foot eight point guards who can dunk from the free throw line, your mind begins to concentrate on your other options.” (Page 130)

In this quote, Wes explains how his aspiration of becoming an athlete was impaired by his realization that he was not good enough.  This shows that it is important to have several life choice paths to take in case one does not work out, and in order to eventually be successful in life.

      ·         “Aside from my family and friends, the men I most trusted all had something in common: they all wore the uniform of the United States of America.” (Page 132)

This quote shows that Wes was inspired and frankly changed forever through military schooling.  This reveals that the military can have a big impact on your life choices and worldview: resulting in an increased sense of pride and dedication to your job and country.

      ·         “’Where did you get this from?’ Wes asked, but Cheryl just kept repeating the same response, as if they were the only words she knew: ‘I’m sorry.’”  (Page 137)

This quote exemplifies the idea of destructive life choices showing that Cheryl, who was perfectly capable of understanding her danger and addiction to heroin, chose to make the wrong choice anyway.  Lack of caring for her children, her absent husband, and her poverty all managed to put her in her miserable state.  The same is true for many depressed people today.

      ·         “Levy would be entering the Job Corps as a high school dropout but was hoping to leave with a general equivalency diploma (GED) and the skills to help him land a job as a hot-water-boiler repairman.  He knew the pay would be lower from what he was making on the streets, but the work was steady and honest, and he would have more time to give his family without injury, death, or incarceration looming.” (Page 139)

This quote shows that Levy chose to put himself through tedious schooling for a job that would result in less pay than his current drug-dealing occupation.  This implies that it is more important to have a moral sense and make honest life choices rather than have more money.

      ·         “’Fuck God,’ he said, drawing in a lungful of smoke.  ‘If He does exist, He sure doesn't spend any time in Wes Baltimore.’” (Page 140)

This quote demonstrates that Wes, who had seen poverty, drugs, and lack of love for his entire love, refused to acknowledge God’s presence.  This choice to decline any sort faith is shown as a consequence of a scarring childhood.

Title Justification Paper #2: Choices and Second Chances

Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of The Other Wes Moore all belong to part two of the book, called Choices and Second Chances.  This section as a whole is about both Wes’ adolescent lives as their paths diverge in different directions.  At the beginning of the section, in chapter 4, both boys are depicted as irresponsible troublemakers who skip school and butt heads with the law.  The other Wes even awaits fatherhood and faces attempted murder charges.  By the end of the section, however, author Wes has become a high-ranking sergeant, athlete, and scholar at military school while the other Wes has been arrested for drug possession.  Choices and Second Chances is an appropriate name for this section because it recounts how both boys made regretful decisions in their lives, but only one Wes was given a second chance to redeem himself at military school. 

In Choices and Second Chances, both Wes Moores start off as reckless kids being corrupted not only by the violence, drugs, and poverty surrounding them, but also by theirs own life choices.  Both boys bring despair upon themselves through their decisions to break the law and skip school.  In this section, Wes writes that, “I could effortlessly recite hip-hop lyrics while struggling with my English class,” showing that he was a perfectly capable learner, but chose not to attend class.  He describes the other Wes saying, “Not surprisingly, without a high school diploma or job training – and with a criminal record – Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family.”  This shows that Wes brought his misery upon himself by choosing to rashly involve himself with gun shootings and drop out of school.  Unfortunately, even though the other Wes Moore’s situation seemed worse than the author’s, it was nevertheless the author who was granted a second chance.  According to Wes, his grandparents sacrificed their savings and mortgage payments from their home so that he could become, “A platoon sergeant, a cadet master sergeant, and the youngest senior noncommissioned officer in the entire corps.”  Through his mother’s desperation and his grandparents’ financial aid, Wes’ behavior and life turned around in military school, while the other Wes Moore never became so lucky.

Choices and Second Chances is an appropriate name for the second section of Wes Moore’s novel because it describes how he and his counterpart made destructive choices, but how military school gave him alone a second chance in life.  What sets this section apart is that it begins to dissociate the two Wes’ parallel biographies, molding the images of both boys into what they are today.  While author Wes became a veteran and Rhodes Scholar due to his life-changing military education, the other Wes became a murderer because he was never given the opportunity to repair his fractured life.  With this in mind, Wes Moore may be trying to tell the reader that life is unfair in that it only grants privileges to a select few.    

Chapter 6: Hunted

      ·         “Not surprisingly, without a high-school diploma or job training – and with a criminal record – Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family.” (Page 110)

This passage shows the importance of education because it implies that if Wes had received a high school education, he would have had an easier time finding a job to support his family.

      ·         “Three years ago I’d been one of the insubordinate kids first entering the gates of Valley Forge.  In an ironic turn, I was now one of the ones in charge of them.” (Page 115)

This quote shows the importance of education because it explains that Wes changed into both a role model and academic leader when he went to Valley Forge military school.

      ·         “I was making a name on the court, and colleges were taking notice, writing to me fairly frequently.  These two letters, from Lafayette College and Georgetown, were just the most recent.” (Page 115)

This quote demonstrates how important school was for Wes because it allowed him to play basketball at a competitive level, which looked impressive to recruiting colleges.

      ·         “This uniform had become a force field that kept the craziness of the world outside from getting too close to me, but I wondered if it was just an illusion.” (Page 118)

Although this quote questions the legitimacy of Wes’ safety at school, it still demonstrates that school provided a comforting and safe environment for him.

      ·         “The irony of the situation forced me to smile, featuring my newly cracked tooth.  Years earlier, I had run through these same woods with all of my might, looking for safety, trying to get away from campus.  Tonight, I ran through the same woods looking for safety, but in the other direction.” (Page 122)

This quote illustrates the importance of education because it shows how Wes had come to realize that school was a safe haven from danger, instead of an unlikable obligation.

Chapter 5: Lost

      ·         “I knew my mother was considering sending me away, but I never thought she’d actually do it.  The final straw came one evening when she sat downstairs on the phone listening to my dean from Riverdale explain why they were placing me on academic and disciplinary probation.” (Page 87)

This quote reveals the importance of education because it shows that Wes’ mother could not tolerate Wes’ bad grades and behavior, and knew her son had to shape up as a student and as a person.

      ·         “My grandparents took the money they had in the home in the Bronx, decades of savings and mortgage payments, and gave it to my mother so she could pay for my first year of military school.” (Pages 95-96)

This quote illustrates the importance of education because it shows how Wes’ grandparents were willing to sacrifice thousands of dollars to pay for a strict, scholarly future for Wes.

      ·         “Wes’s nonexistent relationship with his father probably contributed to his seeming indifference about becoming a father himself.” (Page 101)

This quote shows the theme of absent fathers because it explains that since Wes never had a father to look after him, he did not feel as if he had any responsibilities toward raising his child.

      ·         “Finally, after some jostling, his father’s eyes cracked open.  He saw Wes standing over him.  Still squinting, he looked his son in the eyes.  ‘Who are you?’” (Page 102)

This passage shows Wes’ father’s absence in his life because it reveals that his father had been so removed from Wes’ life that he did not even recognize his own son.

      ·         “Wes went inside, but he had no intention of staying there.  He ran to his room and straight to his closet.  He reached up to the top shelf and pulled out the shoe box that held his 9mm Beretta and a few full clips…Tony’s words rang through his mind.  Send a message.” (Pages 103-104)

This quote reveals the theme of violence because it shows that Wes had been brought up in a family under the influence of violence and therefore tended to respond with reckless violent behavior.

Wes Moore Characterization Sonnets

Lived two boys long ago named Wes Moore

Much time they didst spend on the streets with some drugs

Helped they thus the case of their families so poor

Dealt both with some crews who were really just thugs

Black were their faces like a starless mid-night

Cared both boys for their outward appearance

Although hindered the looks of these two their flight

Displayed both Wes Moores perseverance

Fancy clothes wore one Wes just to seem cool

Jordans wore the other and had small self-control

And while corrected was the first’s behavior at school

Developed the other a worser soul

Their actions thought the boys would serve the turn

But caused unlawful behavior one future to burn

Caused love and drugs in the lives of the Moores much drama

Of the care of their mothers in spite

Saw both boys violence, cocaine and marijuana

But saw the Moores in their darkness some light

Motherly love was what afloat kept the souls

Of the boys quarreled they with the cops

Was one “Kid Kupid” with his seducer roles

With the drugs the other in a Nike shoe box

Fathers absent on the boys inflicted bad behavior

When their wives left they without a tear

And although acted their mothers as a savior

Didst their corrupted fates seem so near

As struggled each Wes between good and evil

Continued their cities in constant upheaval

Chapter 4: Marking Territory

      ·         “Mary knew her younger son was no innocent.  In addition to the knife fight when he was younger, Wes had been arrested a few years back after being caught stealing a car.” (Page 71)

This quote illustrates the theme of poor life choices because it shows the Wes had chosen a path of violence and dishonesty, even as a young boy.

      ·         “She reached again for the first Nike box and opened it.  Inside were pills, marijuana, half an ounce of powdered cocaine, and half a dozen dials of ‘ready rock,’ or crack cocaine…She didn't even bother looking in the second box; she already knew all she needed to know.  Both of her sons were drug dealers.” (Page 73)

This quote reflects poor life choices because it shows how Wes had decided to enter the drug game himself, despite his family’s discouragement. 

      ·         “Of course, all of that didn't matter to my mother.  All she knew was that I could effortlessly recite hip-hop lyrics while struggling with my English class.” (Page 76)

This quote illuminates author Wes’ poor life choices because it shows that Wes was fully capable of learning and memorization, but that he simply chose not to try in school.

      ·         “Not only was her brother older and bigger but he had a rep as one not to be played with.  But I just stood there in my B-boy stance, empowered by strains of ‘The Bridge Is Over’ running through my head, until I felt like the message had gotten across.” (Page 79)

This quote shows poor life choices because it describes author Wes’ tough ego, which could get him in trouble with bigger and stronger kids.  

      ·         “He looked at me with a sly smirk.  ‘You wanna tag?’  I couldn't say no.  First off, Shea was one of the most respected young hustlers in the neighborhood…Plus, I loved throwing my name up on a wall; it felt like splashing in the shallow end of the criminal pool.” (Page 80)

This passage shows author Wes’ poor life choices because it explains that Wes was willing to engage in criminal activity in order to please his friends and to seem cool.

Title Justification Paper #1: Fathers and Angels

The first three chapters of The Other Wes Moore are grouped into one section called Fathers and Angels.  This part of the book focuses on the childhood experiences of both Wes Moores as they grow up under the influence of violence, drugs, and peer pressure.  The first chapter, Is Daddy Coming With Us?, focuses on the absence of fathers in both boys’ lives.  The second and third chapters, In Search of Home and Foreign Ground, deal with the pressure of violence, drugs, and new schools as the boys move to new cities.  While this section as a whole displays the corruption the boys faced after their fathers’ absences, it also reveals the “angelic” mentors that helped the boys through these tough times; therefore, Fathers and Angels is an appropriate name for this section.

When his father dies, author Wes’ mother is no longer able to support him and his sister Nikki on her own, and so she moves them to her parents’ house in the Bronx.  In his book, Wes describes how, “Fear and apathy had become the new norm in what had once been a close-knit community.  They [Wes’ mother and grandparents] also talked about something I’d never heard of before.  Crack.”    This passage shows how Wes’ father’s death led to their moving to the Bronx, where fear and drugs were imminent.  The author also describes the damaging effect fathers had on the other Wes Moore – “Wes got himself ready and went to check on his mother again.  He felt he had to take care of her: his father had been a ghost since birth.”  This quote reveals that his father’s absence made the other Wes and his brother have to deal with stressful situations (the quote goes on to explain how Wes’ brother had started visiting his father in the drug-infiltrated Murphy Homes Projects).  Although the depravity of fathers corrupted both boys, their mothers both served as role models for them.  Author Wes’ mother teaches Wes to never treat women badly and enlists him in a “Predominantly white private school” in the Bronx.  The other Wes’ mother values her education at John Hopkins University and, “Was usually out of the house by 8:30 and didn’t come back until well into the evening.”  Both Wes’ absent fathers provided sharp contrast with their “angel” mothers, who did their best to support them.

Fathers and Angels is an appropriate title for the first section of The Other Wes Moore because it focuses on both the corruption caused by absent fathers in the boys’ lives and the aid and support provided by their mothers – who are the “angels”.  The absence of fathers causes the boys to be faced with dangerous new cities and situations, but the boys’ mothers do all they can to teach their sons the importance of feminism, education, and supporting the family.  Although this theme seems somewhat sexist, the author may have wanted to reflect this idea to show that even amidst the most perilous situations, help and support can still be found. 

Chapter 3: Foreign Ground

      ·         “Just as the street corners of the Bronx had changed, so had the public schools.  Things were falling apart, and the halls of school were no exception or refuge from the chaos outside.” (Page 47)

This quote reflects the theme of change and diversity because it shows how the Bronx public school system had drastically deteriorated after the family’s move there.

      ·         “Up and down the street were entrepreneurial immigrants in colorful clothes – embroidered guayaberas and flowering kente and spray-painted T-shirts – hustling everything from mix tapes to T-shirts to incense from crowded sidewalk tables.  The air rang with English and Spanish in every imaginable accent, spoken by parents barking orders to their children or young lovers playfully flirting with each other.” (Page 48)

This passage shows the diversity of the Bronx neighborhoods caused by the influx of immigrants who introduced new foods, clothes, languages, and products.   

      ·         “Drugs were not new to the Bronx.  Marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine all took their turns as the drug of choice.  But crack was different.  After it officially introduced itself in the 1980s, it didn’t take long for crack to place a stranglehold on many communities.” (Page 50)

This quote shows the change and diversity of the Bronx as it lists the role of various drugs, and shows the terrible effect crack had on Bronx communities.

      ·           “Wes walked through his new neighborhood, the fourth he could remember living in so far in his short life.  He’d called this place home for only the last four months.” (Page 55)

This quote portrays change in Wes’ life because it explains how he had to get used to every new neighborhood he moved into, which was many.

      ·         “Aside from the carbon-copy houses, there was nothing uniform about this working-class neighborhood; it was filled with people of all shapes, colors, and backgrounds.  The only thing most of them had in common was that they came from somewhere else, and for most of them, Dundee was a better place to be.” (Page 56)

This quote shows the diversity of Wes’ new neighborhood, because it describes Dundee as a sort of refuge for several different kinds of working-class people.

Chapter 2: In Search of Home

·         "To Wes, Tony was a 'certified gangsta.'  Tony had started dealing drugs in those shadowy hallways of Murphy Homes before he was ten." (Page 27)

This quote reveals that drug influence was prominent even among young people such as Tony.  It also reveals the corruption of Wes’ neighborhood and life.

      ·         "The Uplands became home to a thriving middle class, while over 1,700 units in Cherry Hill became a breeding ground for poverty, drugs, and despair." (Pages 28-29)

This quote shows how the drugs in Cherry Hill made it an area of misery compared with the richer and more affluent Uplands.

      ·         "She stumbled to the boy, with her right hand tightly gripping a wad of money.  The boy, no older than sixteen, darted his head back and forth, apparently looking for cops, customers, or both.  As she approached him and they started talking, the light turned green and my mother quickly hit the gas." (Page 38)

This quote shows that Wes' mother tried to shelter her children from the changing Bronx, which was slowly becoming corrupted by drug dealing.

      ·         "Fear and apathy had become the new norm in what had once been a close-knit community.  They also talked about something I'd never heard of before.  Crack." (Page 40)

This passage reveals that although crack dealing was a new commodity in the Bronx, it still instilled fear and danger among its citizens and remained very popular.

      ·         "I didn't know that drug fiends were we're still making use of those abandoned buildings for activities that would've blown my mind, or that the swollen hands on the man leaning against a telephone pole by himself – eyes flickering, head nodding – were telltale signs of needle injections." (Page 43)

This quote shows the innocence of Wes despite the corruption and drug dealing that took place in his neighborhood.  It also emphasizes the drug changes that took place in the Bronx when Wes grew up there.

Chapter 1: Is Daddy Coming with Us?

·         “That is one of only two memories I have of my father.  The other was when I watched him die.” (Page 11)

This quote reflects the theme of absent father s because it shows that even as a grown man, Moore is still haunted by the tragedy of his father’s death.

      ·         “My father’s love of Nikki had forced Bill to step up to his parenting responsibilities – it was almost as if Bill cared more because another man did.  With my father no longer in the picture, the pressure was off.  It was as if my sister lost two fathers that day.” (Page 15)

This quote shows the theme of absent fathers because it reveals the unfairness of Nikki’s situation when her supportive father died and her biological father refused to take his place.

      ·         “Wes got himself ready and went to check on his mother again.  He felt he had to take care of her: his father had been a ghost since his birth…Wes was the man of the house.” (Page 18)

This quote shows what little influence Wes’s father had on him, as Wes was forced to step up and be the one to take care of his mother.

      ·         “But the relationship between Mary and Bernard didn’t even make it to their child’s birth.  Since leaving high school years prior, Bernard hadn’t found a steady job.  He spent most of his time searching for himself at the bottoms of liquor bottles.” (Page 23)

This quote reveals that Bernard’s alcoholism was the main issue getting in the way of his relationship with his son.

      ·         “Wes didn’t understand why, but he felt a tension in the room.  Mary looked down at her son and uttered the words she had never said before and never thought she would have to say.  ‘Wes, meet your father.’” (Page 25)

This quote shows that Wes’s father had been absent all his life because both Wes and Mary did not understand why he had come to visit.