The Man Who Was Almost a Man

2 Pages 549 Words

“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright,
In this story, the main character Dave expresses his needs to be acknowledged as an adult. I do not think he was prepared at all to become an adult, he just thought he was. Some of the biggest objects that held him back were not being able to handle problems, the characters in his surroundings, and his immature actions.
Dave exhibits his immaturity and the fact that he is not yet an adult and cannot handle adult problems. His actions lead him into trouble that proves the fact that he is still an adolescent who cannot handle problems of the adult world. When Dave was faced with real problems of the everyday world, he just ran away from them.
The characters around Dave make him feel like he is still a child. He wants to purchase a gun to feel more powerful. In the beginning of this story, Dave talks about how a gun would change the way people acted towards him. He feels that if he owns this power, the men in the field who work with him will have more respect for him, and his mother will start treating him as an adult. Dave feels as if he is surrounded by people who treat him as a child and he does not like this at all. “You ain’t nothing but a boy. You don’t need a gun.” This statement said by Joe, is the main reason why Dave truly wants a gun, to feel independent.
Although Dave wants to be acknowledged as an adult, his actions are very immature and childlike. The act of asking his mother for a gun and feeling as though he cannot ask his dad for the gun for fear of rejection, gives you an example of immaturity. Dave’s challenge to his mother’s rules is another example of immaturity. Dave’s mother agrees to allow Dave to buy the gun as long as he promises to bring it straight to her. He agrees to this, although he does not go along with her wish. The next morning, Dave set out to the fields early to shoot his gun. He ends up accidentally killing Mr. Hawkins mule, Jenn...