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 primarily because they sympathize with his situation and feel compassion towards him. Their motivation for not holding Edward for ransom is primarily internal.
Throughout the story, the narrator and the other man witness Edward's mistreatment by his wealthy and selfish aunt, who refuses to help him pay his rent. The men discover Edward hiding in a toolshed, having been locked out of his aunt's house. Despite their initial plan to extort money from Edward and his aunt, they start to understand the unfairness of his situation and empathize with him.
Edward's plea for help and his genuine despair touch the hearts of the narrator and the other man. They realize that Edward's struggles are not his fault, but rather a result of his aunt's neglect. These emotions override their initial intentions of profiting from the situation.
Therefore, the internal motivation of compassion and empathy leads the men to ultimately release Edward and provide him with some money to alleviate his immediate needs. Rather than exploiting him for their own gain, they choose to demonstrate kindness and understanding, setting him free to find a better solution to his problems.