The Other Wes Moore is the true story of two boys who shared the same name and hometown, but very different futures: while one found success in business and academics, the other is serving a life sentence in prison for murder. The book is divided into three sections that tell the stories of how the Wes Moores's paths diverged in such dramatic ways. The second, "Choices and Second Chances" focuses on the consequences of the choices that each Wes made during their teenage years in Baltimore and military school, which shape their futures in strikingly different ways. Although the two boys choose the courses of their lives in many cases, they are also affected by circumstances that they have no control over. The title "Choices and Second Chances" is appropriate for the author Wes Moore's purpose as it demonstrates his feelings about the role that fate and free will had in his and the other Wes's childhoods.
The title "Choices and Second Chances" emphasizes the importance of both fate and free will in the lives of the two Wes Moores. Throughout the three chapters, it is clear that Moore's main purpose is to demonstrate how both fate, represented by the phrase "second chances," and free will, represented by the word "choices," impact the lives of each character. Initially, fate in the form of situations that neither boy has control over is a deciding factor in the path that their lives take. The other Wes Moore grows up in inner city Baltimore with a mother who is often absent. His older brother, Tony, is heavily involved in gangs and drug operations even before he goes to high school. Wes does not choose to be born in this environment, but because he is, he is quickly indoctrinated into Tony's lifestyle. Unlike children who grow up in rich suburbs or "nicer" neighborhoods of town, he has to learn how to fight and make a name for himself. This is seen in the chapter "Lost," where Wes and some fellow members of a drug operation try to shoot a man who attacked him. Moore writes, "Tony's words rang through his mind. Send a message" (104). Although Wes makes the deliberate choice to shoot the man, thus exercising his free will, he has been taught to do so from the day he was born. For this reason, much of his decision can also be said to have been directed by fate, the "chances" that the author Moore writes about. Wes did not choose to have Tony teach him how to fight; he was young and did not know any better, and yet this experience is one that continues to affect him into his adult life. In the case of the other Wes Moore, his fate shapes the choices he makes-- in other words, his fate decides what he does with his free will. This theme is also seen in the sections concerning the author Wes Moore. Here the word "second chances," instead of being used to describe "chance" as a synonym for "fate" or something out of one's control, is put in a more literal context. Wes is forced by his mother to go to military school in the chapter "Lost." He does not have any choice in the matter-- even when he pleads with his mother to leave, she gives him an adamant no. This display of fate, defined as something that Wes has no control over, has a dramatic effect on his life in the following chapters. Instead of staying on the streets and joining gangs like the other Wes Moore, he begins to consider his place in the world and what his parents did to get him there. This is seen in the chapter "Hunted," where he chooses not to fight a drunk man who is threatening him after thinking about what the ramifications might be. Here, "chance" literally gives Wes a second chance at life-- a chance to not get sucked up into a life of crime and drug dealing. And, interestingly, this second chance gives him the opportunity to make more productive and healthy choices for himself, like the one that he makes to walk away instead of engaging with the drunk man. The second three chapters of the story provide an insightful interplay of fate, both good and bad, and the choices that each character makes.
The second section of "The Other Wes Moore" is written primarily to explore the relation between fate and free will in deciding the futures of the two young men. "Choices and Second Chances" thus refers to the choices that each Wes makes, as well as the "chance" in the form of fate that can both give them new opportunities and take them away. As the story progresses, it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish clearly between which choices are dictated by the unchangeable backgrounds of the two characters, and which events that seem like "fate" are in reality shaped by choices. Free will can often cause unwanted consequences, such as in the case of the other Wes Moore. However, it is clear that the author Wes Moore believes that it can also give tremendous hope for the future.
The title "Choices and Second Chances" emphasizes the importance of both fate and free will in the lives of the two Wes Moores. Throughout the three chapters, it is clear that Moore's main purpose is to demonstrate how both fate, represented by the phrase "second chances," and free will, represented by the word "choices," impact the lives of each character. Initially, fate in the form of situations that neither boy has control over is a deciding factor in the path that their lives take. The other Wes Moore grows up in inner city Baltimore with a mother who is often absent. His older brother, Tony, is heavily involved in gangs and drug operations even before he goes to high school. Wes does not choose to be born in this environment, but because he is, he is quickly indoctrinated into Tony's lifestyle. Unlike children who grow up in rich suburbs or "nicer" neighborhoods of town, he has to learn how to fight and make a name for himself. This is seen in the chapter "Lost," where Wes and some fellow members of a drug operation try to shoot a man who attacked him. Moore writes, "Tony's words rang through his mind. Send a message" (104). Although Wes makes the deliberate choice to shoot the man, thus exercising his free will, he has been taught to do so from the day he was born. For this reason, much of his decision can also be said to have been directed by fate, the "chances" that the author Moore writes about. Wes did not choose to have Tony teach him how to fight; he was young and did not know any better, and yet this experience is one that continues to affect him into his adult life. In the case of the other Wes Moore, his fate shapes the choices he makes-- in other words, his fate decides what he does with his free will. This theme is also seen in the sections concerning the author Wes Moore. Here the word "second chances," instead of being used to describe "chance" as a synonym for "fate" or something out of one's control, is put in a more literal context. Wes is forced by his mother to go to military school in the chapter "Lost." He does not have any choice in the matter-- even when he pleads with his mother to leave, she gives him an adamant no. This display of fate, defined as something that Wes has no control over, has a dramatic effect on his life in the following chapters. Instead of staying on the streets and joining gangs like the other Wes Moore, he begins to consider his place in the world and what his parents did to get him there. This is seen in the chapter "Hunted," where he chooses not to fight a drunk man who is threatening him after thinking about what the ramifications might be. Here, "chance" literally gives Wes a second chance at life-- a chance to not get sucked up into a life of crime and drug dealing. And, interestingly, this second chance gives him the opportunity to make more productive and healthy choices for himself, like the one that he makes to walk away instead of engaging with the drunk man. The second three chapters of the story provide an insightful interplay of fate, both good and bad, and the choices that each character makes.
The second section of "The Other Wes Moore" is written primarily to explore the relation between fate and free will in deciding the futures of the two young men. "Choices and Second Chances" thus refers to the choices that each Wes makes, as well as the "chance" in the form of fate that can both give them new opportunities and take them away. As the story progresses, it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish clearly between which choices are dictated by the unchangeable backgrounds of the two characters, and which events that seem like "fate" are in reality shaped by choices. Free will can often cause unwanted consequences, such as in the case of the other Wes Moore. However, it is clear that the author Wes Moore believes that it can also give tremendous hope for the future.
wow this is brilliant , self explanatory even to someone who never read the book
ReplyDeletewow this is brilliant , self explanatory even to someone who never read the book
ReplyDeletei agree
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