Chapter 2: In Search of Home

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Theme Tracking

Chapter 2: In Search of Home 

Theme 1: Absent fathers can impact a child no matter what the circumstances.

1. "Most of all Wes enjoyed the simple fact that Woody's father was there. Before he met Woody, Wes had never really seen a father around. Single-parent households were the norm in his world... He was genuinely happy for Woody, but he was also deeply envious." page 30

Chapter 2 continues the theme of absent fathers. Wes is clearly struggling with the absence of his father. Woody's father become that person for Wes. Although Wes can see what having a father is like, he is deeply jealous of Woody. Wes's new definition of family and affection and his new feelings of jealousy exemplify the theme that absent fathers impact a child no matter what. From this quote, the reader can see that absent fathers are always impacting the child, especially when they are around people who have fathers. It seems like the reader is using Wes to show an example of "the norm" of single parent households.

Theme 2: People are capable of overcoming obstacles.

2. "We were all enclosed by the same fence, bumping into one another, fighting, celebrating. Showing one another our best and worst, revealing ourselves- even our cruelty and crimes- as if that fence had created a circle of trust. A brotherhood." page 45

This chapter also continues the theme of overcoming obstacles. For the boys in the neighborhood, the basketball court was a place to for them to escape from the drugs and crime. Growing up in such undesirable circumstances causes the boys to have many obstacles including drug problems, violent home lives, and criminal records. From this quote, I can infer that basketball was a way for the boys to overcome all the tragedies on the streets and cope with their hardships. Basketball helped these guys get along with each other but it also momentarily freed them of  the danger and crimes around them. The author seems to use basketball as an example of ways that people cope with things. While these boys use basketball, other characters in the book use drugs and alcohol. By showing these coping mechanisms, the author shows differences between age groups in this community and the ways that people in the community overcome obstacles. 

Theme 3: Single mothers experience similar hardships despite differences in their circumstances.

3. "Mom, if it's still all right, I think we need to move up there. I can't do this alone anymore." page 37

This quote shows insight to some hardship Joy experienced as a single mother. After Wes Moore Sr. died, Joy was left with a broken heart and three kids to support. Without her calm and caring husband to help raise their children, Joy was left with stress and worry as challenges accumulated. Being a single mother brought on a lot more stress and responsibility to Joy's life and her only resolution was to seek help from her parents. This quote shows the hardships that all single mothers face, with Joy as an example. Single parent homes are the norm for this community so the author uses the characters to show the idea that all single mothers experience similar hardship.

4. "It was years before Wes's mom found out her son had been arrested that day." page 35

This excerpt shows parallels between Joy's struggles as a single mom and Mary's struggles as a single mom. Since Mary was a single mom, she could not be involved in her child's life. Mary had to work to support her family. With her busy schedule, she lost knowledge of what her kids were doing including the knowledge that Wes was arrested. Revealing that Wes's mom wasn't even aware of his arrest shows the challenges of being a single mother. 

Theme 4: Drugs and crime can drive individuals in a community to extremes. 

5. "Fear and apathy had become the new norm in what had once been a close-knit community. They had also talked about something I had never heard before. Crack." 

This quote shows a less obvious theme of the novel. The theme of drugs and crime drives the entire plot. Everyone in the community is impacted by  the violence in the area. The community was damaged and torn apart by drugs including crack. Wes and his family were surrounded by vacant buildings and shady drug deals. This environment makes everything in Wes's life that much more complicated. I can infer that the theme of drugs and crime driving individuals in a community to extremes will reoccur throughout the text.