Other Wes Moore

Nov 5

1. Wes Moore 1 grew up without a father. His dad had died due to a medical problem at an early age. Wes was left with his mother and sisters, so he didnt really have a male model aside from his extended family. Wes didnt treat school too seriously, he prefered spending time on the streets with his friends. Despite getting into trouble for things like defacing a wall, Wes never entered the drug business. He also continued to care for his family, even if he did become annoyed with them over what he viewed as small things, like school. This can be understandable, since he had no father and was in his pre-teen to teen years.

 Wes Moore 2 also had no father. Unlike Wes 1's father, 2's was a deadbeat and didnt stay around to raise Wes. That left him to seek out a male role model in his older brother Tony, a growing drug dealer. Unlike Wes 1's siblings and mother, Tony was a horrible influence on Wes. Wes took school even less seriously then Wes 1, and soon chose the drug trade to make quick money. This led to his involvment in gangs that were far worst then Wes 1's friends. Wes also became detached from his mother for flushing some of his product down the toilet.

2. A turning point for Wes 1 is military school. There, among strict rules, Wes didnt have the same influence of the streets he did at home. Wes also saw the marked respect that students gave higher ups, also different from the street life. The school forced Wes to take responsibility for himself and grow up. He took the lesson seriously and realized how much trouble he had caused others, including his mother.

 A turning point for Wes 2 came far later in life, and too late. In order to find a job and pay support for his children, Wes enrolled for trade courses. The sheltered atmosphere and order of the school made Wes feel at ease, and he found he had some skill as a carpenture. However, once Wes was out of the courses, he broke down again. He couldnt find work as easily as he had hoped, and soon joined his brother Tony in a robbery. Wes did not learn his lesson, and prefered the easy way out. Well, easy until he ended up in prison.

3. Wes 1's mother raised him, as his father was dead. Wes' mother was constantly angry and upset about his antics and low grades in school, but she didnt give up on him. She used 'tough love' to teach him the lessons of life. When she saw that Wes was at the point were he could go either way in life, she sent him to the school where he could grow up. This was not an easy choice for her, but she realized what needed to be done, and she did it rationaly. The point eventually came through to Wes.

  Wes 2's mother was not so strong. Wes' lack of responsiblity also comes from his father, who abandoned them. The mentality of giving up or not being accountable passed over to Wes. His mother made all the wrong choices. She didnt seperate him from Tony, and suffered from denial about Wes' drug involvment. She also did a rather stupid move of flushing Wes' drugs down the toilet. She prefered to toss the drugs and pretend it didnt exist. Destroying that much product could have also put Wes in danger with his suppliers. Her lack of control and resolve allowed Wes to become so out of control.

4. The book displays two parts of human nature. Wes 1 started off abit wrong, being drawn into street activites and disregarding school. When some life changing moments arrives, however, he learned them and tried to change. Not just that, he kept working at it to earn real respect.

 Wes 2 was drawn to the streets, and stayed there. Wes prefered the 'easy way' of life, no school, and illegal work. Despite being arrested several times, Wes never actually took responibility for it. He always blamed it on someone else, from his mother to the girls he slept with. When Wes was given a chance to change, it was to hard for him and he ended up even worst off.

 5. I like the book. The perspective is clearly documented and interchanges between both Wes Moores well. Wes 1 writes it in a way that trys to be unbiased about his success against Wes 2's life. The story of both boys growing up is very human, as you can both feel for and dislike certain parts of their life. For Wes 1, you can feel satisfaction at his achievments. For Wes 2, you can feel upset when he makes every wrong move. The Other Wes Moore is a pwerful book.