Symbolism In The Other Wes Moore

In the passage from The Other Wes Moore, author Wes Moore uses an event to display a moment when he matures and realizes if he screws up his life, he may never get control of his fate back. After getting caught spray painting a wall, Author Wes Moore, AWM, states, “he had control of my destiny–or at least my immediate fate. And I couldn’t deny that it was my own stupid fault”(83).
In the story, AWM demonstrates his immaturity and lack of self control when Shea convinces him to spray-paint graffiti onto a wall. Illustrated in the beginning of the passage, AWM is greatly affected by Shea because of his influential figure. When Shea asks him about tagging, AWM explains how he “couldn’t say no”(80). AWM’s inability to act for himself shows how

he can’t make his own decisions even though he knows tagging is illegal and that he shouldn’t do it. Later, AWM states that “even the other [kids] who weren’t in the game, respected [Shea’s] position”(80). AWM is envious of Shea and has tunnel vision, only focusing on gaining respect. His narrow view on life is shown by him going to an extent to gain authority from Shea. Even though AWM know tagging is illegal say, “I loved throwing my name up on a wall; it felt like splashing in the shallow end of the criminal pool”(80). AWM use of “loved” shows how he is blinded by his excitement and immaturity, unable to realize that he could get in a lot of trouble for his actions even though he uses “splashing in the shallow end of the criminal pool” to describe his actions.
Soon after he tagged the wall, the police arrive and AWM transforms, coming to a realization of the mistake he made. After the police arrest both Shea and AWM, AWM states, “We are in serious trouble! I can’t go to jail, man”(82). AWM’s use of “serious trouble” conveys that he finally understands the stupidity of his actions and when he says, “I can’t go to jail” he shows that he never never thought that he was naive and never considered what might happen if he got caught. As the police continue to question the boys, AWM realizes that he shouldn’t always follow Shea’s actions. He explains, “I’m sure in my outlaw fantasies I would’ve been as defiant as Shea, but something about this situation had soured me on romantic rebellion”(83). Previously, AWM craved the respect which Shea has but now AWM describes him gaining respect as “outlaw fantasies” showing that AWM doesn’t think it is possible for him to get the same status as Shea. AWM also expresses that he is “soured” in his attitude towards going along with Shea and denying his actions. AWM finally comes to a complete awareness of the position he put himself into when he explains that “the possibility of losing all control of my life was like a depthless black chasm that had suddenly opened up in front of me”(84). Now, AWM values his life substantially more and cares about controlling his future. AWM uses a simile to compare “a depthless black chasm” to potentially losing of control his life, revealing that AWM realizes how he might never see his normal life again if he screws up.
Even though AWM has a close brush with losing control of his life, he gains valuable knowledge and experience about how he should live, ultimately maturing and reshaping AWM’s identity.