When Richard accidentally sets his house on fire, I think that he was actually being a bad boy. You might say that he's only four years old, and that he didn't know any better, but Richard's year-younger brother was telling him to stop playing with fire. For example, his brother says, "Don't do that...you'll burn the whole broom" (Wright 4). Richard shows poor judgement by lighting straws from the broom on fire. What's more, Richard holds the flame under the curtains! His own brother who is a year younger is telling him not to and saying, "Naw," and shaking his head (4). If a boy at the age of three has the sense to know not to play with fire, then a boy who is four should certainly know not to play with fire. He also decides to run away without even telling his mom about the fire! He admits being in the wrong, and says, "I had done something wrong, something which I could not hide or deny" (5). There are many things that Richard could have done better in that situation. Though I wouldn't say it was entirely his fault, I still think that he was in the wrong.
I don't think that you can ever blame something entirely a single person, or entirely on their environment. With the exception of infants, and those unable to speak or act of their own will, the individual deserves at least a portion of the blame. When one can think and act for themselves, regardless of the environment, peolple can make whatever decision they choose. In Black Boy, Richard lights the house on fire. It was an accident, and he was only four. Also, his mom wasn't in the room with him, so he was unsupervised. He was restless, bored, and tired of being quiet all day. But Richard's brother was in the same environment and he didn't light the house afire. Richard made the ultimate decision to light the broom on fire, and therefore, he deserves a portion of the blame. I think that in most cases, both the environment and the individual should be blamed.
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6 comments:
Maggie!!!
Wow! You are the first person who has actually said that Richard was a bad boy! Good job. Also, you did a great job of supporting your idea with many examples from the book. Instead of just saying that he was bad because he burned his house down, you gave specific examples. But, I would have to question your idea. Sorry... But did you take into account the fact that he was being caged in the house with nothing to do? That his four year old mind thinks quite simply compared to ours?
Good job MAGGIE :)
Bye.
~Claire
Your support for your argument is superb. I agree that if his younger brother knows that setting fire to the curtains is wrong, then Richard should know that as well!
This is my inspiration. I totally agree with you that Richard knowingly risked burning down his house and that therefore he personally is to be blamed for his actions. The support you gave that his younger brother warned against him lighting the drapes only reinforces the fact that Richard has been a bod boy. Nice Job,
and yummycantaloupe? nice
Hmmm, well I must say that I didn't think about how his little brother was telling him to stop and yet he continued to light the curtains on fire anyway... Very well thought out. But I must also say that even with his little brother telling him to stop, knowing that lighting the broom on fire would probably lead to lighting the curtains on fire, and possibly lighting the room/house on fire, he didn't understand that he was putting himself as well as his family in danger by doing so. He would have never done that if he had recognize the fact that he was putting people into danger. It's his parent's responsibility to teach him that fire can kill people. Obviously he missed out on that little family discussion... But all in all you had a very good argument. I applaud you.
Way to be creative! I agree with everyone else's posts... but I also disagree with your support of the argument. Yes, he was only four years old, and young kids don't do well when they're bored-- I know from experience. And, he had grown up in an abusive household, so was afraid to tell his parents (when they find out it was him, they beat him almost to death). I really don't think he's to blame in this situation.
Maggie,
I loved how you blamed the environment and the individual, and supported each idea. However, it is my opinion that the fact that 4 year old Richard was unsupervised (environment) is mostly to blame. However, you made a good point by pointing out his younger brother knew better. Good job!
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