The Other Wes Moore Critical Essay

Many individuals say that a person is a product of its surroundings. And for two young men from Baltimore, this could not be any more accurate. In “The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore, the author talks about two young boys who shared the same name and the contributions they did in their lives that made them turn out the way they are. Both Wes’ grew up in similar environment with tough childhood and without the presence of a father. Where one becomes very successful and a Rhodes Scholar, and the other is heavily involved in the drug game and receives a life sentence in prison for serving a part in a murder of a former police officer.

Gladwell states, “Successful people don’t do it alone.” (119). No matter what people do there is not a time when they aren’t surrounded by factors that will affect them. Factors like society, wealth, or family can change your path to your future. Wes Moore became a successful man who achieved his dreams of becoming a Rhodes Scholar, honored veteran, and great leader.

Poverty shares traits with the Shawshank State Penitentiary: a rare few find a way out but more often than not, those who begin the escape get caught and sent back to the same place they started. The path out exists, but it may require help from outside influences or having to digging away at a hole with a rock hammer for years. Unfortunately, not every impoverished American shares the triumphant tale of Andy Dufresne. The Other Wes Moore tells the story of two men of the same name and beginnings who have disparate futures. The author, Wes Moore, ended up on a path to success while the other Wes Moore remains in a jail cell for the rest of his life.

“This is the story of two boys living in Baltimore with similar histories and an identical name: Wes Moore. One of us is free and has experienced things that he never even knew to dream about as a kid. The other will spend everyday until his death behind bars for an armed robbery that left a police officer and father of five dead. The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.”

On the night of October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, robbed, brutally beaten, and tied to a fence left to die by Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. The book takes place in the drive-through town of Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. The members of the Tectonic Theater Project investigate and conduct over two hundred interviews in order to get more first-hand information about the murder. The author uses literary elements to discuss political and social issues when interviewing Jedadiah Schultz, Marge Murray, and when someone sent an email to Philip Dubois, the President of the University of Wyoming. Social issues are first discussed when interviewing Jedadiah Schultz, a 19-year-old university student.

As Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This quote inspires a lot of people like me to try harder and to never stop at one point and give up. In the book The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, is about two people with the same name and born with the same path, going through challenging life obstacles. They both grew up fatherless and had a difficult childhood.

How well does Moore describe the culture of the streets, where young boys grow up believing that violence transforms them into men? Talk about the street culture—its violence, drug dealing, disdain for education. What creates that ethos and why do so many young men find it attractive? Moore describes the culture of the street in a very detailed manner.

Dexter Green is the more interesting character of the short story and unlike Judy, he has more dimension to his character. This is mainly due to his quest of winning Judy over and what she represents to him. He begins the story as bright and motivated youngster. Even while working as a caddy in his younger years, he was already a smart and successful chap, but at the same time dissatisfied with his positions in society – it is a characteristic which is commonly shared between Fitzgerald’s characters. This can be observed in his daydreams which he creates on the golf course while caddying.

Rutherford Birchard Hayes, the nineteenth president of the United States of America had many profound accomplishments before setting out on the campaign trail in 1876. Rutherford was born on October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio, by his mother Sophia who had lost her husband, Rutherford’s father ten weeks earlier. Rutherford grew up in a house full of love and faith, which helped to smooth the rough times of growing up without a father, as well as losing two siblings. Rutherford earned the nickname “Rud” as he was growing up in Delaware, unable to play and socialize with other kids his age until he was seven years old due to his frail and unstable health in early years. With Rud couped up around the Hayes household for many of his early years,

There have been many theories and research conducted on mental illness and how it can affect a person and their development through childhood and adolescents and follow them into adulthood as well. Many factors can play a role in a person’s development or onset of mental illness. These factors can have correlation with the environment the person grows up in and is surrounded with, it can be caused by something biological, the people that they surround themselves with, their economic status, and if they have parental involvement or support as well. In the case of Wes Moore, it shows and gives a better understanding of the biological, psychological, and cultural factors that can influence a child and their development, thought process, and

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore is about identity. Throughout the book, Wes Moore questions why he and the other Wes Moore had such different lives, even though, they shared a name. In doing so, it caused him to look deeper into his background and himself and wonder how he ended up where he was, along with the other Wes Moore. According to Wes Moore, “As I’ve puzzled over the issue, I’ve become convinced that there are some clear and powerful measures that can be taking during this crucial time in a young person’s life” (Moore 179). He had discovered that he and the other Wes Moore had similar upbringings, but the choices he made differed from the other Wes Moore’s choices.

In this quote, the author, Wes Moore is sitting in the back of a police car after his first arrest. Moore was arrested while “tagging” his signature “Kid Kupid” graffiti art. Once Wes was handcuffed, he immediately regrets his actions. Wes take responsibility for his action and has no intention of ever having his freedom or fate be determined by someone other than himself. When I read this quote, I felt it was a huge turning point in Moore’s life and a big factor for future