Use the organizer below to examine the motivations of the characters in "Why, You Reckon”
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?
What are the motivations to each?
Character's Action:
1. Why does the narrator get involved in a scheme to rob a white person?
Motivations:
- Possible desire for financial gain or a means to escape poverty.
- The narrator could be influenced by the second man's charisma and persuasive nature.
- The narrator may have a deep-seated resentment towards the white community due to personal experiences or social injustices.
2. Why does the second man enlist the narrator's help?
Motivations:
- The second man might see the narrator as someone he can easily manipulate or control.
- The second man may need assistance to carry out the robbery successfully.
- He could be driven by a shared sense of anger or resentment towards white people.
3. Why does Edward hand over his belongings?
Motivations:
- Edward might be frightened and willing to do anything to protect his life.
- He might perceive the three men as threats and believes complying will ensure his safety.
- Edward could be unaware of the seriousness of the situation or might think it is a harmless prank.
4. Why do the three men laugh when Edward hands over his shoes?
Motivations:
- The three men might find Edward's actions comical due to his vulnerability or naivety.
- They might be laughing in a mocking or cruel manner, deriving pleasure from Edward's fear and helplessness.
- It could be a shared sense of amusement at the absurdity or unexpectedness of the situation.
5. Why does the second man leave?
Motivations:
- The second man could be motivated by self-preservation, realizing that staying longer might increase the risk of being caught.
- He might have accomplished his initial objective, such as obtaining Edward's belongings, and sees no further need to remain.
- The second man might not fully trust the narrator and feels the need to distance himself from him.
6. Why doesn't the narrator follow the second man?
Motivations:
- The narrator could fear the consequences of being caught and chooses to prioritize his own safety over loyalty to the second man.
- He might not fully trust or respect the second man and sees an opportunity to distance himself.
- The narrator could be uncertain or conflicted about the situation and chooses to stay with Edward, either out of guilt or a sense of responsibility.
7. Why do the narrator and Edward laugh after the second man leaves?
Motivations:
- The laughter could be a form of relief or release of tension from the intense and stressful situation they just experienced.
- It could be a shared recognition of the absurdity or irony of the events.
- The laughter might be a defense mechanism, masking their true emotions or providing a distraction from the gravity of the situation.