Societies can contain many unspoken rules that people follow. Some of these rules are positive, while others are negative. These negative unspoken rules are seen in the novel Long Way Down as the society depicted in it has three negative rules. These three rules play a big part in the actions of the people in its society. They lead people to kill others to satisfy their revenge, and cause much unrest and remorse. For example, Will and his family have been affected by the rules as Will’s brother, Shawn, and father, Pop, have killed and been killed. Now it is Will’s turn, as he sets out to satisfy his revenge by killing his brother’s supposed killer, Riggs. Though Will has some doubt if he is doing the right thing and if he even has the right …show more content…
These rules have a negative effect on the society as people end up holding in their feelings, letting crimes get out of hand, and lead to many people killing each other for revenge. Furthermore, these rules also negatively affect Will, since he wants to kill Riggs. He first gets into an elevator to leave his apartment. While in the elevator, Will starts to see ghosts of others who were killed by the rules of their society. Will eventually meets his father who died while Will was very young. Then Will said, “I wiped my face … No crying. Not in front of Pop. … Not in front of none” (Reynolds 209). Revealing that Will is desperately trying to hold in his feelings. This is problematic because holding in one's feelings has a negative effect on one’s health and can even lead them to develop chronic illnesses. Additionally, Will, Shawn, his Pop, his uncle Mark, and many other people do not snitch while following the rules. This is apparent as Will decides to go kill Riggs instead of talking to the police and finding evidence to prove the murder of his brother. Then after Will does or does not kill Riggs, someone would attempt to get revenge on Will. This leads to how their society and rules allow for rampant crime. Since people always have to get revenge, there is a never ending loop of people getting revenge on eachother. With continuous loop, more and more crimes and deaths would follow
In the world today, there are people who make the bad choice. Make a bad choice that is, for example, Steve Harmor was the lookout for the robbery but was not responsible for Mr. Nesbitt's death. He planned it with his friend. He said he was at the shore. However, he left the store before Mr. Nesbitt died.
It becomes evident to Will that following in Shawn’s footsteps could have negative implications. The object that Will uses as a reminder of his brother shows Shawn’s flaws, “I wrapped my fingers [around the gun] / placing them over Shawn’s / little brother holding big brother’s hand” (Reynold 64). The relationship between the gun with both brothers and the brothers’ relationship to one another is made evident with Will’s actions. Will covering Shawn’s fingerprints with his own symbolizes his lack of preparedness to carry out the plan. Due to the fact that the gun brings back dreadful memories of an imperfect Shawn; Will decides not to follow his brother's path in an effort to end the cycle of violence that has perpetuated in his family.
The pursuit of justice motivates some characters to take action to right wrongs, showing how justice operates in a place where traditional forms of justice are unavailable finding purpose and meaning in life is also important, as characters fight with the questions posed by the open and unsettled nature of the West. (Vevier, 4) Establishing a driving purpose is key to propelling character forward in their journey into the unknown and building a new community out of the
In the novel Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, we are introduced to Will, a fifteen-year-old boy who experienced his older brother, Shawn’s death. Where Will lives there are three major rules in his way of life including, no crying, no snitching, and getting revenge on anyone who has killed a loved one of yours. In his case he seeks revenge on his brother's alleged killer, Riggs. The story is set in an elevator as Will is on his way to carry out revenge. During each floor Will encounters ghosts of past family members or friends who made an impact on his life.
Will’s dad had grown up on rules and in those rules the way you show respect and the only way to show the hurt you feel is by killing the killer; except, he
and it’s clear that the theme is the cycle of violence. For example, Will was taught “the rules” by and the rules are no crying, no snitching, and always get revenge. The rules keep generations in a cycle of violence. During the story Will sees how the riles and the cycle of violence have the ghosts in the elevator. In Jason Reynold’s, fictional novel entitled Long Way Down, he argues that the cycle of violence can be stopped by doing the right way instead of getting revenge on someone.
The demonstration of the narrator's imagination unconsciously leads his own thoughts to grow into a chaotic mess that ultimately ends in a death. By murdering, it’s his own way of finding peace. He is portrayed as being a sadist, sick man with an unnatural obsession for
The three rules are, no crying, no snitching, and revenge. The three rules are meant to be passed down, for example, Buck passed them to Shawn and Shawn passed them to Will. In Jason Reynold's novel Long Way Down it states, “If someone you love gets killed, find the person who killed them and kill them” (33). Since Will has always gone by the rules, he immediately knew what to do when his brother was shot. He was bloodthirsty and his emotions fueled the fire in his heart, wanting to get revenge by killing his brother’s killer.
The Rules./ (Reynolds 30).” This vivid imagery shows the emotional stress and internal conflict that Will is facing. I like when Reynolds describes “tiny fists punching the back of my eyes” because
One of the biggest obstacles is the cannibals in this new post apocalyptic world, to the boy and the man they are described and called the “bad guys”. The code of ethics that the man and the boy follow isn't the as the “old world rules” where laws exist, government, and they have to abide by doing right toward others. The code of ethics they follow have to be chosen, and it is a path many don't chose in this “new world”. The man and boy are living just the two of them, not looking to hurt anyone else unless their lives are being threaten and even then the boy doesn't like to hurt others. The man does at time do some things that the boy doesn't like, and can look like he is turning out to become a bad guy, yet it is necessary steps to ensure their safety.
Maybe that’ll change in Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. A character named Will would have to make a decision if he wanted to stop the circle of violence in his neighborhood, or get revenge for his dead brother Shawn. Will would stop the circle of violence after interactions with his dead relatives, encouraging him that it’s not the right thing to do and he will only hurt more people. Will realizes the fear and consequence behind rule number three. He also doesn’t want to let anyone down, especially his
For example, Will’s father was meant to follow The Rules and avenge Uncle Mark by killing his killer. He ended up killing the wrong person, and later dying at a payphone. His story shows Will that he may also not know the right person who actually killed Shawn and end up going through what his father did. The Rules caused him to be angry and violent, and how this cycle of violence won’t end as long as The Rules are still in place. Dani, who was Will’s childhood friend, also was in the elevator.
Everybody must do as I say at once!”- Harrison Burgeron. Due to the lack of freedom in this society for the reason of equality, those who are seen as unequal could try to seize power. Despite already being a dystopian society in the story, people trying to change things could make things even worse. Given these points, it is clearly shown how if there is too much regulation for whatever purpose, it can create a dystopian-like
Shawn introduced the rules to Will since he experienced something traumatic firsthand, hoping this would prepare him for the if inevitable outcome of taking revenge for a loved one. Although Will did not take revenge for Dani, the rules finally applied to Will when Shawn was murdered in front of Will. Gun violence played a major role in the way Will copes with situations and the way he makes rational decisions as a teenager that is exposed to frequent gun abuse that happens in his
No matter how we try to change our situation or better ourselves in society, variables will obstruct the path we choose. One cannot take control of everything that surrounds us as fate decides what happens to us. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote explains the murder of the Clutter family in the quiet town of Holcomb, Kansas. The murderers, Richard (Dick) Hickock and Perry Smith, try to escape the consequences of their actions, believing that they can get away with what they did. The story tells what the murderers were thinking after and before they committed the crime and their various interactions.