short essay

          In the novel “The Other Wes Moore” the author also named Wes Moore describes the lives of two boys who despite their similarities take on two totally different life paths.  In the early lives of these two boys (both named Wes Moore) they experience life with no father, violence, drugs, and even trouble with the police. The title of Part 1: “Fathers And Angels” directly applies to these incidents, and the authors purpose to show how proper guidance early on can really determine the decision making skill of a person.

              Wes lost his father Westley to a deadly illness at a young age but Wes was forever influenced by his life. Wes never forgot lessons he learned from his father and throughout the chapters it was almost as if Westley was guiding Wes to make semi-good choices (compared to of Wes 2.) Westley was there to give Wes the foundation he needed to be successful in life and eventually became the “Angel” to watch over him. Opposite to Wes, Wes 2 never had a father or any good male to look up to. His older brother Tony, a drug dealer and according to Wes 2 a “certified gangsta” was who Wes 2 looked up to. The grades of Wes were “slipping” but Wes 2 lived was arrested, participated in drugs, had bad grades, and soon began the life of a drug dealer. Having either a “Father” or “Angel” was very crucial to the early life of these boys.

              In the end the first three chapters show how without “Fathers and Angels” as a young child it is very hard make good decisions. This is shown through the differences between Wes and Wes 2. Both boys had potential to be great but will become very different people as a result of this difference.

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