Personally, I think Bloody Jack’s advice could be considered good or bad from different perspectives. It might be the best idea to suggest a troubled 11 years-old, to “be dumb” and “don’t care”. However, in other ways it might not have been the finest, if the problem needed to be solved.
Bloody Jack’s core solution to Jimmy’s problems at home with the fighting parents is, “be sorry, but don’t worry or care”. From a perspective, it might have been the best and only possibly advice given to Jimmy, as there is nothing much he can do as a child. Jimmy is much too young to face these problems alone, and therefore does not know what to do or have the courage to do anything about it. As an 11 years-old child, he’s not capable to cope with the problems, problems that even adults are having trouble dealing with. Bloody Jack might be right to block things out, even if it’s a temporary escape from reality, however the problems will just remain where they are, and nothing will be solved.
Jimmy can follow Bloody Jack’s advice and ignore what’s going on at home, but it is impossible to completely not “worry or care” about the current situation. With all the emotions building up inside him, it will eventually elope with such a great force that might cause even more damage to him, physically and mentally. What Jimmy really needs is someone to consult, and possibly speak to his parents for him. Someone Jimmy can rely, otherwise, Jimmy could be going down a path of self destruction. His anger and rage will eventually push him over the edge, and when things like this happen to people, it could cause serious harm to self or others.
1 comment:
Cindy,
Your comments show depth of thought and a clear understanding of the issues brought up by Bloody Jack's advice - excellent work.
You are right in suggesting that the advice Bloody Jack gives is not particularly helpful to Jimmy and that he in fact needs someone to be able to guide him better. Bloody Jack is an older man who has also been through much pain in his life and he has used the strategy of "not caring" to cope, but we know that this kind of strategy is not really helping Jimmy understand what is happening at home and to himself as a result.
Could you please edit a couple of things in the final paragraph. I think you mean "erupt" instead of "elope" and You need to say that Jimmy needs someone to rely ON.
Keep up the good work Cindy : )
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