The sealing of the fate of both Wes Moores is detailed in
the final chapters of the book, dubbed “The Land that God Forgot” and
“Surrounded.” Entitled “Paths Taken and
Expectations Fulfilled,” the final section of The Other Wes Moore is appropriately named based on the author’s
purpose of demonstrating the role of free will in the lives of all, and how
each person can determine their future. Moore gives the readers a glimpse
into the futures of both Wes Moores as they continue along their chosen paths, and
settle into the lifestyles they were expected to have.
The author’s purpose of demonstrating the relevance of free
will and the importance of the path each person decides to take is clearly
emphasized in the title “Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled.” Moore uses
multiple examples of such concepts throughout the section. The second Wes
believes, “We will do what others expect of us […] 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.” Wes’s inability to take control of his
life led to his downfall as seen when he was arrested for his crime and sentenced
to prison for life. This Wes chose to take a dimmer path, “ he’d never thought
long term about his life at all […] Now Wes’s mind wandered to the long term
for the first time. Finally, he could see his future.” To a degree Wes filled the expectations
of those around when he was sentenced to prison. He had long been involved in
crime, and the sentenced only confirmed what everybody seemed to know already. Conversely,
the author responded to Wes’s comment regarding expectations by stating that he
“sympathized with him, but I recoiled from his ability to shed responsibility
seamlessly and drape it at the feet of others.” The author saw the importance
and value of hard work and took control of his future. The plotline also sees Wes Moore
filling the expectations of his father, realizing that “Knowing when to fight
and when to seek peace is wisdom. Ubuntu
was right. And so was my father. Watende, my middle name, all at once made
perfect sense.” This not only
demonstrates the author obtaining a larger understanding of the way of life he
wants to live, but also shows that he was both able to fill the expectations
his family members had for him and simultaneously take control of his own
future.
Moore appropriately titles his section “Paths Taken and
Expectations Fulfilled” to encompass his purpose of unveiling the deeper themes
of the collection of chapters. While people have expectations placed upon them,
it is an individual choice as to what they want their future to be. The title
appropriately aligns with the ideas of free will determining one’s future, and
the importance of the paths all people choose to take.
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