Chapter 8: Surrounded

Chapter 8: Surrounded

Theme: Crime

Theme Statement: Crime never leads to success in any way shape or form. 

Quote 1: "Her heart broke when she saw Tony's and Wes's face staring back at her..."

Analysis: This quote contributes to the theme of crime because it shows the final loss of hope that Mary had for the two boys as she knew that they would both likely be in prison for the rest of their lives. She also knows that now, their kids will be given the burden of a lost father and they too could end up in the same position as their fathers in the future. 

Quote 2: "The twelve-day manhunt was over."

Analysis: This quote also contributes to the theme of crime because it shows how finally, the lives of both Wes Moores will now be distinguishable for good. No longer can you see the many similarities that we may have seen while they were both developing adults and children. The other Wes Moore's future is now set after this quote because he is going to be in prison for the rest of his life. 

Theme: Life Choices

Theme Statement: Life choices are the telltale sign of someone's moral strength.

Quote 3: "By the end of our meal, I realized that Hopkins represented much more than a chance to attend a great school with a phenomenal reputation."

Analysis: This quote contributes to the theme of life choices because it marks Wes' transition from boy to man as he decides on wanting to go to a prestigious university to bring him even closer to success. I believe the reason why Wes liked Johns Hopkins was that instead of having lunch with an older white man who would interrogate Wes about his SAT scores, he had lunch with a pleasant black man who was warm and gave Wes the support to eventually help him get in. 

Quote 4: "I had applied for and received a grant to go to South Africa through the School for International Training, a Vermont-based program that offers the chance to live overseas for a semester or more."

Analysis: This quote contributes to the theme of life choices because it shows how Wes is helping his future in yet another great decision. Not only with this trip bring him worldly experience, it will also give global context and drive to continue his studies and to make sure he completely covers the hole that he dug himself out of which is different from the other Wes Moore as he has dug himself down even farther. 

Theme: Overcoming Obstacles

Theme Statement: Overcoming obstacles is something every single person has to do to be great.

Quote 5: "Despite entering the school with lower scores than the average student, I would walk across the stage as a Phi Beta Kappa graduate who was also the first Rhodes Scholar in thirteen years at Johns Hopkins and the first African-American Rhodes Scholar in school history."

Analysis: This quote contributes to the theme of overcoming obstacles because it shows that even though there were countless factors against Wes, he overcame all and did something he or his mother would have never even dreamed of earlier when he was still the immature Wes. He started to take his opportunities seriously and learn from each and everyone of them. Wes is a figure that could be put into the books because of the mountain he climbed and that is something to write home about.