Analysis Of In The Other Wes Moore

In The Other Wes Moore author Wes Moore unravels how the other Wes and his fate diverged. Wes#1 and Wes#2 narrate pivotal life events that teach them how to become a man and use the skills they acquire to survive poverty and manhood. Growing up in poverty without a father, as well as, learning to become a man is harsh when one does not have a father figure to look up to and a loving family that encourages success. In order, for both Wes Moores’ to be successful they need parental guidance, self-discipline, and positive mentors.
In these articles “‘Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” by Michael Kimmel and “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff they relate to Wes#1 and Wes#2 growing up and learning to be a man that is acceptable in “guyland”. Kimmel discusses “the guy code” as the expectations and rules of being a man. “‘The Guy Code’ is the collection of attitudes, values, and traits that togetherness …show more content…
His friends taught him that being “tough” and breaking the laws makes one cooler. Even though his brother encouraged him not to be involved in drugs and gangs, Wes#2 still idolized his brother, Tony. In Kimmel’s view “... young men take huge chances to prove their manhood, exposing themselves to health risks, workplace hazards and stress-related illnesses” (Kimmel 614). Wes#2 risked going to jail because he wanted to be like his brother. Both Wes Moores had positive influences in their life. With these influences, the boys’ lives and their perspective of masculinity changed. For Wes#1, his platoon sergeant and comrades were his greatest influences. In military school, they showed him that he could be someone greater with ambition and discipline. “He loved his brother but had learned to ignore his occasional ‘do as I say, not as I do’ tirades” (Moore 27). Wes#2 had his brother Tony as his positive influence, but he was not effective enough to stop