Home > The Man Who Was Almost a Man Summary & Study Guide > The Man Who Was Almost a Man Group > Question and Answer

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   mrs-campbell Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Originally, Dave stops by the store to pick up a catalog that has revolvers in it; he wants to look at them.  As he does, he imagines how great it would be to have one, how it would make him more of a "man".  He stops by again to buy the infamous and unlucky gun that he feels is going to make a man of him.  This is the fatal move that leads to many of his foolish actions in the rest of the story; his disrespect of his parents, the unfortunate shooting of the mule Jenny, his lying, and eventually, his skipping town in the final act that shows just how far his is from achieving his goal of manhood, and responsibility.

   Sources:

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

   http://www.enotes.com/man-almost-salem

   Rate answer:

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by mrs-campbell on Wednesday January 7, 2009 at 6:41 AM