Richard seems to be well intentioned most of the time and so I believe he is not being "bad" knowingly. He grew up in a economically disadvantaged household and was raised among a feeling of stress and violence. For example, when he lights the curtains aflame he is not trying to stick it to his parents, he is merely curious, and wants to have some fun and excitement. Also when he goes on the street and totally owns the bullies trying to take his grocery money he didn't know that kind of behavior is usually frowned upon in the US of A. Another example of Richard's "badness" is when he hangs out at the local pub and gets hammered regularily. He doesn't understand what he is doing is wrong, for he was never taught what was the right thing to do.
I think there is a very distinct line between behavior being blamed on environment and when it can be balmed on the person. In Richard's case I think most of his behavior can be blamed on the environment. For example, when he asks the teacher to tell him about bluebeard. His grandmother gets furious and Richard doesn't know why. He couldn't have known that listening to a story was a bad thing to do. But an example of a bad call by Richard is when he takes the kitten to the gallows and strings him up. This was a total lapse of judgement in Richard and should be balmed on him. Yes, his father did say to "kill that cat" but some things just need to be implied, you know?
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4 comments:
I agree and disagree. First of all, I agree that Richard has no way to know that listening to Bluebeard is a horrible crime. However, Richard does know that fighting is wrong. If he thought it was ok, why didn't he do that the first time? Doesn't his mom later beat him for fighting at school?
I agree with your overall conclusion that Richard isn't a bad boy by nature, but I think you could have stated your opinion regarding the kitten situation in a better way. Yes, killing the kitten was a lapse in judgment, but once again, the environment surrounding Richard caused it. His frustration with his father must have conjured up many angry thoughts and feelings that he may not have known how to release. In this situation, I think he became so wrapped up in his own displeasure that he lost sight of the situation at hand.
I totally agree dude. I said similar things on my blog on how Richard is not really a "bad boy" but at times he makes bad choices like when he owns the cat. I think that Richard figures out that what he is doing is wrong but only after the fact like the Bluebeard thing. He doesn't think what he's doing is wrong so he is confuesed as to why he is getting punished.
Nice job Brian, but one thing: when you assume it was all Richard's bad judgement for killing the cat, think about the amount of stress and anger Richard builds when his father gets mad at him for the noises from the cat. Richard feels that it was not his fault at all that the cat was there causing a "raquet". Of course he wants to abide by his father's command to get rid of the cat, but when he can't, his anger takes him to rash actions to kill the innocent cat.
Otherwise I agree with you that a child's curiosity can take him/her to all levels of consequences.
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