Character Analysis: The Other Wes Moore

Words: 581
Pages: 3

In Wes Moore’s The Other Wes Moore, there are many life lessons that can be derived from the text and take grasp in the reader’s own life. Throughout the narrative, author and narrator Wes Moore succeeds in conveying how he and the other Wes made their choices and the life that was constructed from these choices. One of the largest turning points for when their lives divided into two different futures was during their childhood. During the his childhood, the other Wes Moore grew up with a family that had already succumbed to the crime around the community that they lived in. An important role model in the other Wes Moore’s life was Tony, his older brother. Tony had a bold relationship with Wes which consisted of lessons being driven into Wes. Knowing the struggle of growing …show more content…
From this quote, the reader learns that the reason the other Wes Moore was collected during his early childhood was because he had someone to believe in him. Tony guided Wes away from becoming like him since Tony never had someone to believe in him. “To carry the burden of belief alone is too much for most young shoulders. Tony had been overwhelmed by that load years ago. Now he wanted to help Wes manage his”(Moore 28), explains author Wes Moore. As long as Tony remained the male figure in his life, Wes would be okay, but eventually it was too much to ask of Wes. Later in the narrative, the potential to make money in the drug business overcame the guidance of his older brother Tony. After discovering the effects of drugs with his friend Woody, Wes joined the drug business despite what Tony had said to him. Tony was not happy when he found out. After returning to the Wes and Tony’s mother’s house, Tony discovered the new gear that had been scattered throughout Wes’ room. Wes may have fooled his mother on how he got the new shoes and other expensive items, but Tony