Ashley Cruz Mrs. Grey English 1 Honors 27 March 2023 The Power of Revenge In the story Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, we’re introduced to how some people live and how they all repeat a cycle of power, loyalty, revenge and fear. You may wonder how people live with power, loyalty, revenge, and fear. Almost every character that was killed in Long Way Down sought revenge and got it, then they faced the consequences of being killed. The story states “There's a code of conduct, and what those rules are is number one, no crying, number two, no snitching, number three, always seek revenge.”, cited on page 31.
Many people feel terrible after exacting revenge on others, contrary to popular belief. In fact, few people know the truth behind seeking revenge, one of the oldest, most ingrained societal actions that humans possess. In the Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes embarks on a revenge spree after having been imprisoned on trumped up charges for 15+ years. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah was lead to believe that enlisting in the Sierra Leonean Army was the only way to avenge the death of his family. Revenge is harmful because it deeply affects the mind and soul, and affects the well-being of others.
Revenge is one of the “unwritten rules” in the urban area that the story takes place in. Will believes he must follow the rule of revenge to not be looked down upon by his community. “They weren’t meant to be broken./ They were meant for the broken/ to follow.” (Reynolds 35). Will explains how “The Rules” were not meant to be broken, but for the broken-hearted to follow them.
This statement can be related to other passages in the novel
An eye for an eye may seem like a good idea, but the opposite is true. Revenge seemed like a good idea to Matt, but it made him feel empty and still devastated over the murder of his son. The story, “Killings”, by Andre Dubus made me rethink my opinion on parent-child relationships and revenge. The story reinforced my idea that revenge never makes people feel better, but I can still understand Matt’s internal struggle following his son’s murder.
Sometimes violence is necessary for self-defense, and survival. In the realistic fiction novel Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Long Way Down tells the story of a teenage boy, Will, who is going to seek revenge for the murder of his older brother Shawn. There are rules that Will has to follow so according to the rules he should go after his brother’s murderer. This book shows the negative effects of gun violence and it puts it through the perspective of a teenager.
The quotes show how this novel is based on the idea that wars hurt the
90.65% of homicides are revenge related. 100% of those happen because of emotional hurt or hatred. Will leaves in a rough neighborhood. His actions are dictated by three rules. His brother dies and he’s faced with the decision of killing his brother’s murderer or letting him walk.
Leaving a Life of Violence to Find Your Own Path In Long Way Down, Reynolds set the theme with his introduction of Will Holloman, the main character. Everyone believes Will doesn't have the guts to follow The Rules like those before him. The Rules are simple: no crying, no snitching, and killing for revenge.
Well, the rules in this story consist of one no crying, two no snitching, and three revenge. One of the rules that truly shows in the cycle of violence is rule three revenge. This rule in the book says, “If someone you love gets killed, find the person who killed them and kill them.” (Reynolds 33). This quote demonstrates that no matter what, you must get revenge for your loved one who has died by finding their killer.
Revenge can help us feel better about ourselves, but you must remember it will eventually come back to you. In the book Long Way Down written by Jason Reynolds, Will is motivated to get revenge back on Shawn's murderer but he has to realize he will soon be the next victim. I believe that Shawn is the most important and has the biggest impact on will. In Will´s family, they have to follow a certain amount of rules that are not meant to be broken. ´´
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.
”Revenge is not a good thing. Revenge is like politics: one thing always leads to another until bad has become worse, and worse has become worst” (Jonas Jonasson). The book Long Way Down, the main character Will, has to follow three rules. No crying. No snitching, and always get revenge.
Revenge can be a horrible emotion; it can sometimes lead people to do horrible things. By definition, Revenge means to get retribution for a wrongdoing done to you. In my opinion, revenge is mostly caused by fear and the overwhelming feeling of payback Throughout history, revenge, or vengeance, has been altered by several cultures and religions, and even the American culture. Though it often leads one to perform criminal acts, Howard argues that it is a necessary component in the functioning of society. He points out that revenge is a threat that acts as a disincentive to undeserved violence.
Revenge is a real thing in today’s society. It happens every day. There are different reasons for revenge from as small, as a small child stealing a stick of gum to a drug dealer murdering a nark. Regardless, taking revenge in itself may be for the greater good, or evil.
