Revenge is a never-ending cycle that leads to the demise of an individual. In the book Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds when the narrator, Will, is seeking revenge after the death of his brother. Will receives advice on his choice from people who are presumed to be deceased and have came back to life. Although many characters in Long Way Down impact Will, the most significant character he encounters is Mikey Holoman because he alters Will's decision to get revenge. Mickey Holloman was most influential in Will's decision because he represented the endless cycle of revenge. Before the death of Shawn, he told Will the story of how their dad “was killed for killing the man who killed our uncle” (Reynolds, 2017, pg 203). This evidence illustrates Mikey's downfall as analogous to the situation Will is currently in. Will is in pursuit of revenge against Riggs, his brother's alleged murderer. Based on Mikey’s path, Will’s quest for revenge will eventually lead to his demise. It is a valuable lesson for Will as he battles the cycle of revenge. Mikey was guided by vengeance while pursuing retribution and if Will follows this path, it would culminate in Will's death. This parallel impacts Will's decision the most not to continue his pursuit of revenge. …show more content…
Gee didn't kill Mark" (Reynolds, 2017, pg. 218–219). Mickey Holloman only realized he enacted his revenge on the wrong person after Gee’s death. The book implies that death and revenge continued to follow Mikey until he ultimately died. Will's position is similar in that he may chase the wrong person because the person he believes murdered Sean, Riggs, is just an assumption that will lead to his death. Mikey’s appearance had the most impact on Will because he demonstrates the complex nature of revenge which applies to Will’s current