TOWM Chapter 4 -6

    

        


    The theme most prevalent in these chapters is one of hope and expectation along with the nature vs. nurture argument.  These chapters start to depict the stark contrast between the two Wes Moore's lives especially in what their environmental influences pushed them towards. A lot of influence comes from their roots and support systems they have in their cultivation.  This was especially shown with the guidance given to both of the boys during their adolescence. 



Even though they grew up in similar neighborhoods, their lives from the beginning started to show distinctions starting off with their father figures.  While it was a common aspect for both boys not having their father figures, one Wes Moore’s father died being remembered as a good and gentle man while the other Wes Moore’s father simply left him with a bad example and neglect.  As the other Wes Moore stated in the beginning of the passage that their fathers were gone for different reasons, it has made a significant effect on their lives and how they lived it.  Despite them living in the same neighborhood, domestic life and the extent of regulation is a big factor for their distinct lives. One Wes Moore had a supportive mother who pushed her son to be someone she can be proud of along with a supportive family who enforced rules for regulation of safety.  The other Wes Moore had a mother who had to compensate for the lack of support she had by constantly working so she never really regulated her son’s activities and his role model was his drug dealer.  





There is a huge distinction between the two mothers of the Wes Moores where Joy, made sure to communicate lessons such as never hitting women to her son and upon losing her husband had her grandparents to support her. Despite them moving into a neighborhood ridden with drugs and destruction, Wes Moore’s family made sure that he was safe and they even moved him to a private school to get better education. While Wes did not even see the point of keeping up with his studies, his mother made sure to keep an eye on his grades and even sent him to military school. Wes did not like it at first, but he learned that his family sacrificed a lot for him because they wanted him to be successful and gave him the tools to do so.  Wes had also felt that his father who was so gentle and strong to him needed to be proud of him along with his family so he set himself straight. 




On the side of the other Wes Moore, his mother Mary had hoped Wes would not end up like his brother or father, but she did nothing to really set him in line. She was even naïve to think that Wes was actually making money from DJing, but Wes had no one to have as a good example.  Tony being the only role model Wes had, wanted Wes to be different from him. He would tell him to steer clear of his path of being in the drug business and didn’t care if he was being hypocritical. Though his hypocrisy is what didn’t give Wes the urgency that this business was not good and didn’t strive for Wes to be out of the influence. They had hoped Wes would be better, but subconsciously it was like they had already given up on him. Tony had given Wes the mindset to fight back on others and was ultimately preparing him to be like him rather than someone who could rationally get himself out of tricky situations. He never worked through his feelings and would essentially just see red because he would be beaten by his brother who wanted him to change, but he never grasped why.




The two clear distinctions between these two environments is how one parent takes actions for a child to understand that they want the best for them and understand the sacrifices being made for them.  The other parent simply just leaves it up to hope while neglecting the regulation of a child and leaving them to do as they pleased.  While it was an okay effort for Tony to warn Wes of what he was doing, it was impossible for Wes to truly understand the grave mistake he was getting himself into.  It takes a mix of action and communication to truly create the change you want to be seen in the world, starting with those around you who could be highly influential like children.  Similar to Frankenstein, he became the monster due to neglect and was never taught what was right or wrong. Both of the men are good people but were just dealt different cards.


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