3 pages - Takira.. due: 28/2.. Indian time: 4:00 PM
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takira_hayes-_is_socrates_a_hero.docxTakira Hayes
February 19th, 2015
English 103 sec
Professor Noone
Essay # 2
Socrates Fortlow- The Uncommon Hero
In modern day, we hear the word hero chucked around all the time primarily by the media. The word is used loosely as if anyone can be a hero. But what does it mean to be genuinely heroic? According to the Oxford dictionary, by definition a hero is “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. In Walter Mosley’s novel, “Always Outnumbered Always Outgunned” the protagonist, Socrates Fortlow possesses qualities of what is said to be a hero. Many may disagree and says his heinous crime year’s prior prevents him from becoming a man of courage although his attitude present in the novel is completely transformed. On the ghetto streets in the novel Socrates was able to take the young boy Darryl under his wing. While doing so, the reader has the ability to see Socrates make good life choices such as scaring away the neighborhood drug dealer and lending a helping hand to those in need.
To defend Socrates Fortlow position of being a hero one must analyze what makes an individual heroic. Hero’s can come in many sizes and shapes but not all come with capes and tight clothing. Realistic heroes are the one’s that’s is trying to do the right thing on a day-to-day basis. They are someone who is altruistic in poor situations and is willing to put their own life in jeopardy for others cost. A hero does not have to be afraid to do courageous acts. They are human and are scared like any other human would be therefore they act on instinct. They feel obligated to react whether if they are afraid or not. Also heroes are not born, but made. Many people in difficult situations would give up but a hero is takes on the challenge in attempts to achieve their goal. They are sometimes the person one would least expect. Certain ones live in the poorest neighborhoods in the country and possibly a minority. They want to better their communities that are filled with drugs, guns, gangs and violence. These heroes sink into the background because they don’t have what the ideal hero would. To humanize heroes we learn they are not perfect. They still have conflicts that they face with themselves and failures to overcome. More often they are shaped by the people are situations around them. Possibly the most important trait is they exemplify the idea of leadership. The nature of leadership is to be at a position of power in a group amongst them. They have an individual effect on each member of their group, influencing or directing them to do the right thing. A leader has the ability of control the mentality and performance of the members. In general, heroes are essential because they provide aspiration, optimism, and meaning to people’s lives.
The first aspect that makes Socrates heroic is being a protector, fighter, and mentor for the boy Darryl. Darryl’s character is influenced by the circumstances surrounding around him. He is only a 12 year old that has seen and been through traumatic events that Socrates tries to help him overcome so he can develop into a better person. The first encounter Socrates has is when Darryl kills his chicken. “He couldn’t have been more than twelve but he had that hard convict stare. Socrates knew convicts, knew them inside and out” (Mosley 13). It’s instantly obvious that the young boy needed some guidance in his life and Socrates was willing to help. He takes Darryl in and makes him pluck the chicken. It is Socrates way of making Darryl complete a task and paying his debt. After eating the chicken, Darryl tells his story on how he killed the “retarded” boy for following him and his friends. “Ain’t nbody here, Darryl. Just you’n me. I’m saying that you was wrong for killing that boy. I know you killed’im. I know you couldn’t help it. But you was wrong anyway. An’ is that’s the truth, an’ if you could say it, then maybe you’ll learn sumpin’. Maybe you’ll laugh in the morning sometimes again.” (Mosley 22). Once Darryl became hostile Socrates explain why he should take blame or the heinous crime he’s done. Once he takes credit he will begin to breath again and repent from what he did. If he continues to deny killing the boy he will live with the guilt for the rest of his life.
The next appearance of Darryl is in the chapter Marvane Street. In the chapter Darryl visits Socrates during a storm because he couldn’t sleep. He explains that the boy he killed keeps coming back to kill him, but Darryl wakes up before the boy can catch him. Socrates explains again that he’s done something bad and needs to do something to make up for it. When they arrive at Marvane Street Socrates point out the “young Africans” who are trying to make a difference in their community. At their destination Socrates make Darryl examine a house that was noticeably a police headquarters. Socrates state “they worried ‘bout them young college Negroes. Maybe they making bombs down there. Even worse: they gonna get all other Negroes to vote” (Mosley 88). He want Darryl to realize that the police are more concerned with the young black educated men in the neighborhood rather than the crime that’s still happening on that street. The lesson Socrates wanted Darryl to comprehend was to get an education so he can be somebody. He wants Darryl to be like Luvia who opened her arms and wallet. He wants him to be laughing, eating good and going to bed knowing nobody is hungry on his street.
The in the chapter lessons becomes Darryl fighter and mentor once again. He forces Darryl to stand up to the neighborhood bullies. “ Darryl’s eyes pleaded with Socrates but the ex-con showed no sympathy” (Mosley 128). As Darryl began to lose the fight Socrates intervened with the boys when one of them pull out a gun. Later Socrates explain to Darryl that he has nothing to be sorry for. “’You stood up for yourself’ Socrates said. ‘That’s all a black man could do. You always outnumbered. You always outgunned” (Mosley 131). Although Darryl is scared he explains that he can’t beat everything but he break the rules and earn respect in the neighborhood. He must overcome a problem by any means. He wants Darryl to understand that he will always be outnumbered and outgunned as long as he lives just because he’s a black man. Although this was another one of Socrates lesson many may argue that this did not embody heroism. He put Darryl’s life in danger so he can teach him another lesson. He could’ve been beaten up or shot and killed. A hero wouldn’t force someone to fight a battle that could have been avoided.
Outside of Darryl, Socrates makes good life choices everyday. The first good deed Socrates do is scaring away the neighborhood drug dealer Petis. Socrates observes his group of friends that is struggling to find a solution for the drug dealer. He states that telling the neighborhood and police won’t stop Petis’ antics because it will hinder the black men in the community as a whole. Few of the men believe that killing him will solve the problem. “That killin’ ain’t no answer for civilized men. I’m sayin’ that being right won’t wash the blood from your hands” (Mosley 30). The next day when they visited Petis, Socrates made him fearful by threatening him. He told Petis to flee the neighborhood and never come back. Although Socrates gave Petis a chance to live, he also put others lives in danger. Petis went to other neighborhoods to harass them when he could have been put in jail. Petis was later beat to death for the same crimes he’s been committing. Socrates knew prior that he would never change. The men wanted to continue to stop neighborhood thugs. “We cain’t live like that. We did what we have to do. But you know, I don’t know if I have the heart ever to do it again” (Mosley 36). Socrates does not want to be affiliated with crime stopping. The death of Petis weighed heavy on him as he watched his mother cry at the funeral.
In the last chapter readers are able to see how Socrates character developed. He transformed from being a “black sheep” to society to having a life he is satisfied with. Socrates family isn’t present in his life. He looks at his friends as family. Since Right is dying of cancer, Socrates is doing anything he can to make his last days better. He gives Blackbird a four hundred dollar tip for the morphine because he did something no doctor could do. He also brought a gun to put Right out his misery. Right wanted to talk to Socrates about death, because it was something he didn’t know. Socrates had too many deaths in his life and needed to be prepared for it. “Scared’a pain. I am scared’a pain all right but not no death, not no more” (Mosley 204). Right wanted Socrates to live his life and not be scared to die. He made Socrates happy by being content with death and happy in that moment.
In the novel Mosley shows that a black ex convict can overcome complications with strategic actions on a daily basis. Socrates character consists of any heroic features. He decides to pay his moral debt to society with his courageous acts. Each story in the novel concentrates on something that Socrates applies moral reasoning to. He stands up for his values when there is a threat to. He is undoubtedly a praised hero for his community.
Work cited
Bernstein, Andrew, DR. "THE PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HEROISM." Mike Menterz. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
"Hero 1." Hero: Definition of Hero in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Mosley, Walter. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
