In "Why, You Reckon?" what argument does the other man say to persuade the narrator to team up with him? What lesson do you think the narrator learned from his experience with the other man and Edward?
In the short story "Why, You Reckon?" by Langston Hughes, the other man initially tries to convince the narrator to team up with him by pointing out the benefits of their potential partnership. He suggests that together they could intimidate and rob people on the street, splitting the money equally between them. The other man argues that the narrator's current attitude of enjoying the little things in life would not lead to financial success.
Throughout the story, the narrator learns a valuable lesson about the consequences of greed and criminal behavior. Initially, he is attracted to the idea of easy money and joining forces with the other man. However, after witnessing the violent robbery they commit together and its damaging effects, the narrator realizes the error of his ways. He learns that happiness and contentment cannot be achieved through ill-gotten gains or at the expense of others. The experience teaches him the importance of personal integrity and the dangers of succumbing to temptation.