Why, You Reckon? by Langston Hughes, pages 252-258
Skill Development: Character Motivation
Motivation is a character's reason for acting a certain way. Writers might directly state the reasons for a character's behavior, or they might expect readers to draw their own conclusions based on clues in the story.
Understanding a character's motivation helps readers predict what a character will do next.
Use the organizer below to examine the motivations of the characters in "Why, You
Character's Action
1. Why does the narrator get involved in a scheme to rob a white person?
2. Why does the second man enlist the narrator's help?
3. Why does Edward hand over his belongings?
4. Why do the three men laugh when Edward hands over his shoes?
5. Why does the second man leave?
6. Why doesn't the narrator follow the second man?
7. Why do the narrator and Edward laugh after the second man leaves?
Based on your answers, make a prediction about each of the characters.
The narrator will:
The second man will:
Edward will:
The narrator will: continue to be involved in schemes to take advantage of white people.
The second man will: continue to manipulate and use the narrator for his own benefit.
Edward will: be gullible and easily fooled by others.