Should Matt Have Allowed Ben Into His House

Matt’s Dumb Decision Would you let a stranger into your house if you were alone in the forest? Matt Hallowell, the main character in The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare, had to make this decision. Thirteen-year-old Matt had been left alone in the woods while his father went to guide his sister and mother to their new home in Maine. One day after Matt’s father had left, a massive man named Ben came to Matt and asked to spend the night at his house. While everyone agrees Ben could easily overpower Matt once inside the house, some say Matt should have allowed Ben to enter the house, and others believe he should not have let Ben inside. Matt should not have willingly allowed Ben into his house for three reasons. Ben was a stranger, he used Matt’s possesions, and Ben was and evil man.

Ben could have been anybody, even a murderer. Matt was alone in the woods, and did not even have any neighbors to help defend him once Ben was inside. Even though Matt had a gun, Ben was much bigger and stronger than Matt, and could easily overpower him for his it. The second reason Matt should not have let Ben into the house is because Ben used Matt’s possessions. Ben had no more right to enter the cabin than a dog has a right to eat from its master’s table. He took Matt’s time when he could have been doing something else, and he ate Matt’s food. By spending the night he robbed Matt of sleep when he tried to stay awake to watch Ben. The third reason Matt should not have let Ben into the house is because Ben could definitely harm Matt. With his dad gone there was no adult there to protect him from Ben. Without his dad Matt was virtually defenseless against Ben, especially when Ben was inside their small, one-room cabin. And if he was able to defeat Ben, he would probably just return with backup to get revenge on