Chapter 7

Fate vs. Free Will

“We will do what others expect of us,” Wes said. “If they expect us to graduate, we will graduate […] If they expect us to go to jail, then that’s where we will end up too. At some point you lose control.” I sympathized with him, but I recoiled from his ability to shed responsibility seamlessly and drape it at the feet of others.” Pg. 126

This quote demonstrates that although fate may be an aspect in shaping lives, individual free will can change the future. The second Wes emphasizes the role of mentors, arguing that each person is affected by those around them, and learn from those around them, making everybody a product of the people who have influenced them. Conversely, the first Wes is shocked by this, and does not believe that others should be blamed or accredited completely for the successes or failures of another. This demonstrates that at many points, humans are offered little choice when it comes to who plays a role in shaping their lives, as family cannot be chosen; however, at the same time, each person is responsible for taking charge of their lives and making the ultimate decisions regarding their own personal futures and decisions as to who they wish to be.

The Future

“ The notion that life is transient, that it can come and go quickly, unexpectedly, had been with me since I had seen my own father die. In the Bronx, the idea of life’s impermanence underlined everything for kids my age- it drove some of us to a paralyzing apathy, stopped us from even thinking too far into the future. “ Pg. 133

As shown by the above quote, the future is an intimidating idea to many. As the author states, many kids living in the Bronx, where he spent much of his childhood, tried to avoid thinking and acting based upon what they believed would take place in the future.  Growing up around neighborhoods where death may be common due to poverty or crime clearly took a toll on the youngsters, and almost made a successful future seem out of the question for them. Consequently, giving little thought to the future, many children who grew up in harsher conditions had a harder time planning a better one for themselves, only trapping themselves where they are.

Drugs

“The sight of her coming off her high, stumbling to the bathroom, disgusted Wes. He saw this every day. The people who would line up around the corner for drugs. The people who would do anything to score. “ Pg. 138

The second Wes is clearly rattled by the fact that the mother of his two children is a drug addict, demonstrating both the toll drugs take on individuals, but the effects that carry over to their loved ones and those surrounding them. Moore speaks of the other people who would line up for drugs, illustrating that drug addiction was both widespread and difficult to overcome, showing that such substances could destroy individuals. Further, Wes is emotionally torn up by the fact that his wife is an addict, and that she is raising their children. This illustrates the fact that not only the addict is affected, as Wes must also go through the low’s included in drug addiction, and his children are brought up in an environment that many may deem unfit. Because of the influence of their parents, Wes’s children may only partake in such activities when they grow up, again, creating a cycle of poverty and crime.

“His shoulders slumped, his eyes downward. “I’m done man,” he said. “I want to get out. Do something different with my life. But I’m not sure what[…] I’m tired to running these streets.” Pg. 138

Similar to above, this quote demonstrates the destructive nature of drugs, but also goes into the fact that many wish to escape the game and may regret previous decisions to get involved. Wes is unsure as to what the rest of his life will hold for him; however, at this point in the story he is convinced that he must get out of the drug game and create a better life for himself and his family. Wes clearly sees that being involved with drugs has prevented him from making an honest living for his family, and that his wife’s addiction will eventually take a toll on his children.

Poverty

“He worked ten hours a day and came home with barely enough energy to play with his kids and barely enough money to feed and clothe them.” Pg. 144

A sad truth is revealed through this quote, regarding the process of leaving the drug game and living in poverty. Although Wes was serious about leaving drugs behind and getting another job, he only struggled financially and was unable to support his family. As a low-wage worker, he worked long hours for little profit, demonstrating the unfairness of the situation, and the difficulty of living in poverty. As seen later in the chapter, Wes returns to the drug game as he is unable to live of off working honestly. This shows the injustice of the world, and that in some cases, honesty and hard work may not be able to pull through, especially later in life when an education seems to not be a possibility. The story of Wes could be similar to that of others, and shows the difficulty of escaping poverty.