Title Justification Short Essay #1

"Fathers and Angels"

With absent fathers and various role models, the two Wes Moores have uniquely different lives as demonstrated in the novel The Other Wes Moore. The first section of Wes Moore’s The Other Wes Moore is entitled “Fathers and Angels,” which is appropriately named in regards to the author’s purpose and themes. Although the two Wes Moores have the same name, they were raised by different people, all of whom shaped the lives and futures of the two men.

The title “Fathers and Angels” aligns well with the author’s purpose as it explains the influence of the absent fathers on the lives of the two Wes’s, as well as details the impacts of “angels” or role models. A major difference between the two Wes Moores is the reasons why the have absent fathers, the “other” Wes emphasizing to the author, “Your father wasn‘t there because he couldn‘t be, my father wasn‘t there because he chose not to be. We‘re going to mourn their absence in different ways.” (Pg. 3) Both of these men have strong memories of their fathers, demonstrating the influence fathers have- particularly on young boys. By including the word “Fathers” in the title, Wes Moore is clearly aligning the importance of such figures on young boys. Further, the importance of role models in shaping the lives of the boys is shown, the author stating, “Young boys are more likely to believe in themselves if they know that there’s someone, somewhere, who shares that belief.” (Pg. 28) The author Wes was graced with a hard working mother who would do anything for her children, and two grandparents who opened their home to him. Conversely, the second Wes had his older “gangsta” brother who dealt drugs, and a mother with a stash of Marijuana in her closet. This clear difference in who each Wes had to look up to demonstrates the sheer power family members have on creating the people here today. Individuals are shaped by the people around them, and having metaphorical guardian angel in one’s life may make all the difference in creating a more positive one.

By entitling the section “Fathers and Angels” Wes Moore is able to convey his purpose of detailing the influence of family members on the two young boys. Such differences in the people that surrounded the two Wes Moores shows the prevalent impact of them, and the importance of role models. While one Wes’s father died, the other chose not to be present in his son’s life, which created different, more hostile feelings. The presence or absence of positive role models also played a difference in shaping the lives of the two Wes Moores, with the author having more positive influences in his life, and the “other” Wes having more negative role models. Wes Moore is able to illustrate that humans are molded by those who surround them, and the fathers and angels of his life and the other Wes’s life have clearly influenced their futures.