“I am Andy (Hunter).” The decision to live a life as part of a gang brings one to take pride in wearing garments of clothing as simple as a purple jacket, it also brings about a sense of security and pride as one becomes identified as part of a that group. One does not realize however, they lose their own identity in the association, no longer known as themselves, they are seen only as part of that gang. Is it worth it, to lose one’s identity almost completely, with constant looks over one’s shoulder for potential danger, and in a time of need denied help because of fear of backlash; all because of a purple jacket and its suggestion. All these questions, poured over Andy as he lay in his final minutes on a rain-washed sidewalk, at the end of an alley, where he suffered an open wound gash to his stomach just moments after being confronted by a rival gang. On the Sidewalk Bleeding, brings to light conflicts between man vs. man and man vs. self, a setting that exemplifies the tone of the short story, a theme of identity, and a single piece of symbolism.
On the Sidewalk Bleeding, written by American novelist and screenwriter, Evan Hunter, follows the final moments of a young boy, age sixteen, as he lay on a sidewalk needing medical attention but is denied it on three separate occasions. The narration is construed through Andy’s conscious thoughts, thoughts of how he wanted Laura, his girlfriend, in those final moments, how he wanted to grow old and have kids living in the
The author at the military school lived in an environment where he was required to do his best each day, “It was a different psychological environment, where my normal expectations were inverted, where leadership was honored and class clowns were ostracized”(page 96). The author is expected to be exceptional at school and follow exemplary behavior. After meeting this expectation “’no excuses, no exceptions’,” Wes became a better man “my back stood straight, and my sentences now ended with ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’’(page115). Wes on the other hand is expected to make money by any means possible. Because Wes had no boundaries for what he could do this led him down a criminal path of dealing drugs.
Coleman develops this argument by providing real life experiences and facts about Anonymous while illustrating and describing their progression as a group. Her purpose is to make readers aware about the intentions of Anonymous in order for people to get a better understanding of who the Anonymous really are. Because of the author’s sophisticated and professional tone and use of complicated language, it seems as if she writes for a professional and educated audience as
An individual’s process of transitioning into a new social context can be very daunting and challenging as they journey into the unfamiliar. However, this process can also offer growth as it allows an individual to acquire a renewed perception of their own identity and the world around them; this can also be strengthened the individual’s relationships, intensifying this growth for the individual. This is explored in J.C. Burke’s novel “The Story of Tom Brennan” (2005) and Tim Winton’s short story “Neighbours” (1985) where both authors implement a range of techniques to explore the growth of the protagonist’s despite their confronting transition into a new social context. The challenging nature of transitioning can result in an individual
Today America is bombarded with objects that are utilized as symbols that either perpetuate cultural codes or that rebel against dominant conventions. The bandana is an example of an object that has become an iconic symbol of rebellion. Throughout history, the bandana has served numerous purposes. Regardless of the meanings it has had over any time period, no connotation has been more prevalent, to this day, than the association between bandanas and gangs of the 1980’s. Gangs were initially created for the purpose of unity and protection in ghettos and barrios (neighborhoods) against any oppressors.
He sees African American youths finding the points of confinement put on them by a supremacist society at the exact instant when they are finding their capacities. The narrator talks about his association with his more youthful sibling, Sonny. That relationship has traveled
In Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear the Mask” the speaker wears a mask to hide his internal suffering because he does not want the rest of the world to think he is weak. This poem relates the prejudice black people face against white people. The speaker starts the poem with the lines, “We wear the mask that grins and lies,” (1). Here he describes the kind of “masks” that he wears.
In T. Coraghessan Boyle’s short story “The Hit Man”, underlying psychoanalytical themes are present that display an allusion to struggles in human life. The main themes present in this story are dysfunctional behavior, displacement, and an insecure sense of self. Readers see the main character, The Hit Man, go through his entire life struggling with insecurity and other dysfunctional behavior. During this timeline, his dysfunctional behavior represents common struggles and conflicts that occur in common day-to-day life. Relationships with his parents and classmates and also academic struggles seems to be the main contribution to the way this character is represented.
Him and his gang would do all sorts of Relates to the prompt because: he joined the gang so he didn’t feel lonely. By him joining the gang, his future was destroyed. An example about when my cousin lived in Colombia, she grew up in the middle/poor class. Many of the women there were prostitutes. They were very beautiful, had money, didn’t need an education.
John Singleton’s film, Boyz N the Hood, displays the challenging upbringing of adolescents who have to live with harsh conditions around not only their home but also their surrounding town. The film compares the differences between the lifestyles of Tre Styles and his friends’, Darren and Ricky Baker. Darren and Ricky are half-brothers who are nothing alike. Singleton demonstrates the importance of male leadership in a home in the ghetto of Los Angeles by comparing the difference between the lifestyles of Tre and his friends. While many adolescents in the hood have close friendships, some form close relationships by assembling gangs and create a world of violence due to alcohol abuse, which together ultimately breeds discrimination.
Geoffrey Canada does an excellent job of bringing his readers to the streets of the South Bronx and making them understand the culture and code of growing up in a poor, New York City neighborhood in the ‘50s and ‘60s. In his book, Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun, Canada details, through his own childhood experiences, the progression of violence in poverty plagued neighborhoods across America over the last 50 years. From learning to be “brave” by being forced to fight his best friend on a sidewalk at six-years-old, to staring down an enraged, knife wielding, “outsider” with nothing to defend himself but nerve, Canada explains the nightmare of fear that tens of thousands of children live through every day growing up in poor neighborhoods. The book
Even though his brother was too deep into drug and gang culture to escape, “[he] wanted Wes to be nothing like him” (72). Yet, Wes was consumed by the, “… same game that had consumed [his brother] and put a bullet or two in him,” and had never known anything in his family outside of drugs and gang violence, so drugs and gangs were the only expectation Wes had, the only place he saw himself fitting into (58). Ultimately, the expectations of those
In "Identities" the story refers to mistaking another person 's identity and who they are. In the story the guy,"does not feel fear but relief" just because he was a white police officer he thought that he would see him as innocent person because they had the same color of skin and the type of neighbourhood they were in. People tend to see things as we are and not for who someone truly is. A person 's identity does have an affect on a person 's appearances because it 's the first impression other 's get of you.
Time presents many challenges in life, as evident in a passage from Dalton Trumbo’s, Johnny Got His Gun. Not only does Trumbo craft a compelling story that allows readers to immerse themselves in the seemingly unbreakable relationship between a father and his son, Joe, but he also lends substantial meaning to an emotional story about how a relationship can endure time’s tests. Throughout the story, Trumbo misses no mark when developing Joe’s relationship with his father as one that is adventurous, humble, and timeless. In order to effectively characterize their relationship as such, Dalton Trumbo intricately employs meaningful imagery, an effective third person point of view, and noteworthy symbolism. From the onset of his story, Trumbo
The Noble Savage Throughout life, we often discover individuals whose true identity is masked (concealed?) by their attitude and appearance. This mask (veil) conceals the bigger picture. Without deeply knowing an individual, it’s difficult to perceive (discern) who they are and their influence on the world around them.
Moreover, it can be recognised that Makaye’s aptitude within the police force has influenced his commitment to his work despite his indignant attitude. Social identity involves characteristics given to an individual by a society (Van Huyssteen, E 2003). In Makaye’s case, his social identity is associated with violent and corrupt connotations. Makaye’s expresses agency through opposing his social identity by which he systematically stays up to all hours in order to accomplish the goal given to him to capture twelve criminals by the end of the night (Altbeker. A, 2005, 203).