The Other Wes Moore Notes
The Other Wes Moore Questions 1. The book begins with Wes and Wes’s discussion of their fathers. What role do you think fatherhood played in the lives of these men? How did the absence of their fathers and the differences in the reasons for their absences affect them?
● "Wes [other] said to me in one of our conversations: 'Your father wasn't there because he couldn't be. My father wasn't there because he chose not to be,'"(3).
This is a distinct difference between the two men and the role that they played on their sons’ lives. Both men grew up fatherless and had a working class mother.
The author's father died at 34 due to a medical problem leaving Wes who was only 3. The other Wes’ father was never in his life not because of necessity but because of choice. The only father figure that he really interacted with was
Woody’s dad. “ Most of all Wes enjoyed the simple fact that Woody’s father was there” (30). Understanding that he would never have this interaction and relationship that Woody has with his father must have caused some feeling of low selfworth because his father could be with him but chooses otherwise. Wes knew that his father loved him while the other Wes knew his father had no intentions on being apart of his life or even caring. 2. The tale of two men named Wes is also a tale of two mothers. What are some similarities between Mary Moore and Joy Moore? What are some differences particularly their reactions to their sons’ misbehavior?
● Mary Moore and Joy Moore, much like their sons, are women going up in similar times with similar circumstances. but with some striking differences. Both of the mother are hard working who only wanted the best for their family. Joy Moore was raised by college educated parents and she spent her life working to better her children. She finished college and made many effort to sustain a good life for her children. She moved to fond a stable and safe place for her children to grow up.
● "Wes [other] said to me in one of our conversations: 'Your father wasn't there because he couldn't be. My father wasn't there because he chose not to be,'"(3).
This is a distinct difference between the two men and the role that they played on their sons’ lives. Both men grew up fatherless and had a working class mother.
The author's father died at 34 due to a medical problem leaving Wes who was only 3. The other Wes’ father was never in his life not because of necessity but because of choice. The only father figure that he really interacted with was
Woody’s dad. “ Most of all Wes enjoyed the simple fact that Woody’s father was there” (30). Understanding that he would never have this interaction and relationship that Woody has with his father must have caused some feeling of low selfworth because his father could be with him but chooses otherwise. Wes knew that his father loved him while the other Wes knew his father had no intentions on being apart of his life or even caring. 2. The tale of two men named Wes is also a tale of two mothers. What are some similarities between Mary Moore and Joy Moore? What are some differences particularly their reactions to their sons’ misbehavior?
● Mary Moore and Joy Moore, much like their sons, are women going up in similar times with similar circumstances. but with some striking differences. Both of the mother are hard working who only wanted the best for their family. Joy Moore was raised by college educated parents and she spent her life working to better her children. She finished college and made many effort to sustain a good life for her children. She moved to fond a stable and safe place for her children to grow up.