Unforeseen Consequences.

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                                                                                                      Timothy Das

English HL1- 2

                                                                                                                    28/04/2007

                         Unforeseen Consequences

No matter what kind of journey we make of life, where we started out will always be a part of us. The greatest place of fortune any of us can enjoy in this world is to be born into a loving family. Unfortunately, in the two stories, The River and The Artificial Nigger, the innocent children that were brought into this world, got a glimpse of how cruel this world can be.  These children are neglected as they are in search for some sense of direction. The children are the ones who have to suffer the consequences of selfish parenting. As a result, the child becomes more independent and has practically no one to look up too for guidance.

In The River, at the very beginning of the story, Harry, changes his name to Bevel. This can be interpreted as lack of identity as he doesn’t know whom he really is. As the parents are often involved in many social gatherings, Harry is often left on the sidelines. He is been entrusted with an external figure, this being his babysitter, who provides his basic needs, in which he hardly receives at home. At home, he takes care of his own self. He makes his own meals, as no one is willing to do it for him. In this story it is clear that Harry’s parents are not prepared to foster a child. Harry has not been given any direction from his parents. The behavior of his parents can be described as egocentric and selfish. They are too self-centered.

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As the basic moral teachings of a child should come from its home, Harry receives no guidance on this subject at all. He was never told the difference between what is right and wrong. When Harry’s babysitter takes him to her house, Harry encounters a book, which looked attractive as he was amazed by it. It was a book that originated from 1832, thus making it priceless. Given the purity of a child, Harry steals the book, and takes it home to his parents. When his family discovers the book that Harry stole, all they could think of was ...

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