A Long Way Down Important Quotes

Influence "If it doesn't feel right, don't do it." That is the lesson, and that lesson alone will save you a lot of grief." This quote by Oprah Winfrey connects with the story "A Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds, which has a character named Will. Will has a big decision to make during the story. When something does not feel like you should do it, you usually do not. In Will's position, he might have to do something, even though it doesn't feel right for him to do it. He knows he will have to continue and go through with it because it is The Rules, but after talking with his Dad and Buck, Will knows he won't be able to. Each floor that Will gets to in the elevator, the more and more he feels that he shouldn't go through with it. Everyone in

Buck doesn't believe Will can go through and kill Riggs. He created doubt in Wills's mind that he was too weak and couldn't go through with it. "But you ain't got it in you, Will," he said. Your brother did, but you– you don't." I think the author included this in the novel to show that Buck was the first to know that Will doesn't have it in him to go through with it. He has too many responsibilities to go through when killing Riggs. Also, he didn't want to know what his mom would think. Buck was getting in his head about whether he would do it or not. After this interaction, I believe Will really contemplated whether he should do it. He knew he couldn't do it and how weak he was compared to when his whole family followed the rules. They knew what would happen and what they needed to do, but nobody ever taught Will the rules in depth. Buck told Will about the rules and how they have been there forever. It says, "I remember when I gave that thing to Shawn, Buck said, He was around your age." Told him he could hold it for me. Taught him how to use it, too. Taught him the rules. Make him promise to put it somewhere you can't get it. And I replied with as much toughness in my voice as I could. But I got it,