The Man Who Was Almost a Man Group

Question:

sheenag
sheenag
Student
College - Freshman

In "The Man Who Was Almost a Man," what does Dave mean when he says, "They treat me like a mule and then they beat me."?

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Posted by sheenag on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 8:40 AM and tagged with characters, dave, quotes, the man who was almost a man, themes.

Answers:

  1. bocateacher322
    bocateacher322 Teacher
    Middle School

    In The Man Who Was Almost A Man, Dave is a boy who feels like he is an adult. The reason that he feels that he is an adult instead of a child is that he is already 17, he works and earns money. He feels that he is the same as all the adults that put in the same day’s work. But he is unhappy that although he does work and earn money the same way all the adults do, they treat him like a child. The reason he states that they treat him like a mule and then beat him is because not only does he perform the work, he doesn’t feel like he is respected. This is the reason that Dave then decides that if he gets a gun, then the others will respect him, and if they don’t respect him at that point, then he will shoot them.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/man-almost
    http://www.enotes.com/man-almost/themes

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    Posted by bocateacher322 on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 9:01 AM