In "Why, You Reckon?" the narrator and the other man do not hold Edward for ransom. What was their reason? Is their motivation for not holding Edward for ransom internal or external?
In the short story "Why, You Reckon?" by Langston Hughes, the narrator and the other man do not hold Edward for ransom because they realize that they have mistaken him for someone else. Their motivation for not holding Edward for ransom is both internal and external.
The external reason for their decision is that they discover Edward is not the wealthy man they believed him to be. They initially thought Edward was the son of a rich landowner and planned to hold him for ransom in order to attain a large sum of money. However, they soon find out that Edward is actually a poor black man who works as a cook. This external realization leads them to abandon their plan.
The internal reason for their decision is empathy and a sense of moral understanding. As they get to know Edward and spend time with him, they realize that he is a kind and simple person who does not possess the wealth they were after. They start to sympathize with him, realizing that he does not deserve to be held captive for a crime he did not commit. This internal change of heart and moral awakening ultimately leads them to let Edward go free.
Therefore, the motivation for not holding Edward for ransom in "Why, You Reckon?" is a combination of external circumstances and internal growth. The external discovery of Edward's true identity and financial situation prompts them to reconsider their original plan, while their internal empathy and understanding guide them toward a more humane choice.