Is Richard a "bad" boy?
When should behavior be blamed on the person and when should it be blamed on the environment?
I do not believe that Richard is a "bad" boy morally. In chapter 1, Richard killed the kitten, burned a house, got drunk in saloons and wrote obscenities on windows. These are all "bad" things to do, but considering the situation Richard was in and the hardships he has endured, I would not label him as being bad.
Most of what Richard has done was wrong, but he was motivated not by his own evil conscience, but by certain events and surroundings. For example, when Richard first moved to Memphis, he was surrounded by a completely different environment. He grew up being sheltered from drunkeness, perversion, and most evil things that occur in big cities. He was enticed into the saloons by sheer curiosity of something new and different (and the entertainment of watching drunks). He did not want to drink at first because he saw it's ill effects, but was persuaded to by adults (an authorty that his mother taught him not to disobey). The writing of profanities around the city was also an effect of his drinking, which he is 100% responsible for, but not enough to brand him as an insane alcoholic.
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3 comments:
hello laurennn!
i really like you're examples! they were very descriptive. you did a good job supporting your ideas! nice!
I totally agree with you, Lauren but I think that the parents have something to do with his actions as well. They tell him not to do stuff but they don't help him to understand why he shouldn't to them. Based on Richard's age, he would do the forbiden things just to find out why they were so bad.
Lauren, I share your opinion that Richard is not a bad boy. But I believe it has more to do with his parents not teaching him between right and wrong that has led to many of his past wrongs. They taught him through punishment not to speak out and do wrong things but they never taught him how to do them right things and treat them with thankful respect.
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