Student Question
How does the protagonist, Sam, demonstrate bravery in "The Taste of Watermelon"?
Quick answer:
In “The Taste of Watermelon,” Sam’s bravery is shown in words by his declaration to his friends that he will enter the watermelon patch under a full moon, even though inside he is afraid. The difference between courage and bravado is shown by his actions, his crawling all the way to the giant melon, and his reflection on what he is proving to himself. True courage is shown by his admitting his misdeeds to his father.
As the newest member of the group of three friends, Sam still feels like somewhat of an outsider. While he, J. D., and Freddy do many things together, Sam wants to prove himself at least an equal to them. He surmises that a clear display of bravery will impress them. There are several quotations that that reveal his state of mind as well as provide the words he actually spoke to them.
One night while they are out at the swimming hole under a summer sky that is bright with moonlight, Sam decides to enter the dangerous watermelon patch that Mr. Willis guards with a loaded gun. He tells the others that he intends to enter the field, as he was seized not with
the idea of making my name for years to come by such a deed, but the feeling that there was a rightness in defying the world...
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and Mr. Wills.
Once he has verbally committed to this deed, Sam feels he has no choice to go through with it. He figures out a relatively safe way to make his way through the field, by crawling. On the way he meets a terrapin, with which he feels kinship. The action of crawling all the way to the melon is a clear demonstration of his courage. At the same time, he reveals insights into the difference between bravery and “bravado,” as he admits that there are things he needs to prove to himself, Willadean, and her father, not just to the other boys.
I wondered why I was out here in the middle of all that moonlight on such a venture. There was more to it than just bravado. I was proving something to myself—and to Mr. Wills and Willadean.
After the boys destroy the melon and then witness Mr. Willis’s horrifying breakdown, Sam realizes he must come clean and try to make things right. He collects as many seeds as possible and tells his father he must go to Mr. Willis, despite his fear of getting shot.
"Then why are you going?" he said.
"Because I've got to," I said.