After browsing people's blogs for a couple minutes, I suppose I should start writing mine.... So, the question of the day is,
Is Richard a "bad" boy? And, when should behavior be blamed on the person and when should it be blamed on the environment?
In my opinion Richard is rarely a bad boy. What he does is usually out of ignorance, and although ignorance is no excuse for mistakes, he is only a child and can't be held accountable for most of the stuff he does. For example, when he burns down the house (at four), he wasn't trying to cause destruction, he was just curious to see what the curtains would look like on fire. Although that isn't a great excuse for burning down a house (yeah, try and have an excuse when you burn down the house...)he truly didn't realize the repercussions of his actions. Richard also does bad things, because his environment is bad. For example, getting drunk and repeating explicit words weren't Richard's fault, because at that age you usually obey and trust adults, and if the adults want you to drink, you drink. Plus, look at all that positive attention he was getting, something that was missing from home. His behavior was product of his environment.
There is, however, one instance that Richard is a "bad" boy and does do something that is of his own fault. Killing the cat was well thought out and intentioned. Although he did do it out of his anger towards his father, killing the cat wasn't circumstantial to his environment or his ignorance. Richard was fully aware of what he was doing and did it to defy his father. This was a bad act, and he was justly punished by his mother.
Overall, I think Richard isn't a bad boy, and most of his actions are spawned from his ignorance and his environment. Although Richard can behave badly as any kid can, for the most part, Richard is a good boy who struggles with the world around him.
Blog... check
Essay... meh
J.H.R.
(R.A.B. anyone?)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Hi Jack, nice essay! (Like everyone else's blogs) I agree with you! Richard is a bad boy beacuse of his environment. But I do disagree with you in one way, when you say that he is bad because of his curiosity. Well, do you think a 6 year old in a loving family would become an alcholic and feared on the streets by parents? You do back it up with evidence though, so I'd say your pretty convincing. Great essay!
Shara
I agree with you, but can I point out that that is what I wrote =)
Hi Jack! Good blog. I agree that environment and ignorance are partly to blame for the acts that Richard commits. I like the point that you brought up about how Richard killed the kitten and I like the language that you used. (:
Hey Jack! Cool essay (a lot longer and more thought out than mine needless to say). You had great ideas and backed up your examples really well. I do think though that Richard getting drunk in a saloon was partly his fault since he was wandering around the saloon constantly during the day; so he kind of asked for it. Great work!
This is very insightful, you clearly read the novel and took the time to answer the question thoughtfully.
Wow Jack...this may be a first...are you ready for this...
I AGREE WITH YOU!!!! (aaaggghhhh! a sign of the apocolypse!)
Anywho, I think you used great examples to defend your ideas, and as always, there was plenty of voice (cynical as always, friend), which made it much more fun to read. Well, in conclusion, I may agree with you this one time, but you will NEVER make me come to the dark side (of being pessamistic)! So long, Amigo.
-P.S. This sure beats moodle, huh?
-P.P.S.
What's R.A.B.? Or, is this something I should know and will get an earful about tomorrow because I don't?
Teddy-- did you read Harry Potter? RAB and the locket?
And Jack, I agree with you. He's young, innocent, and was just bored and curious- a bad combination for a four year old. And, with the cat, he was just following his abusive father's orders. Which led to more abuse, but that's a different story.
Post a Comment