Death: A Consequence Of Being Cool

Death: A Consequence of Being Cool In "We Real Cool", Gwendolyn Brooks is describing the thoughts of seven high school dropouts that have gathered together at the Golden Shovel, a local pool hall. These teenagers boast about staying out late, dropping out of school, and committing sins. Each one of them is aware that death will ultimately be the outcome of their destructive lifestyles, but they are willing to accept their fate because they want to continue to be "cool." The language that is used in this poem explains the world and feelings of someone who does not value an educational environment. Lack of education and respect for self and others will have negative consequences and can lead to a person's death. The first
line "we real cool, we left school" (1591) conveys the teenagers feelings about school. For them, school is not worth their time. Because life has much more better things to see and do, school will be a hinder them from having fun and accomplishing the plans that they have made. This belief is shared by many teenagers during their stage of rebelling against their parents and other authority figures. Their feeling is that life is too short to let the good things pass them by for a future they may or may not have down the road. The phrase "We Lurk Late" (1591) again represents how hanging out late with friends is more important than being at home studying for classes that are a waste of time. To the teens, spending their evenings and nights behind closed doors with books in their hands that they do not want to understand or pursue a future in is a waste of time. They believe hanging out late is more time to do whatever it is that they want to do. The phrase "We Strike Straight" is relating to the game of pool that they are playing and the choices that they make. Because they have chosen to play pool together, they believe that they have learned to play the game very well. In a larger context, these teens believe that whatever it is that they chose to do will be done to their perfection. "We Sing Sin," is a phrase that is explaining their feelings about the sins that they commit. The singing of the sin shows that the boys are excited and content with their drinking, staying out late, and their decision to quit school. In their eyes this places them into a group that is nut fearful of anyone or anything. The phrase "We Thin gin" represents how the presence of alcohol will strengthen their courage and determination to be cool. The consumption of gin has made them different from the rest of the teenagers that are in school and not cool because they are attending school. The drinking places them into a group that is not afraid of anything or anyone. Education is not needed for their survival in the world. The word thin is used to recognize the insecurities that the teens are encountering during their drinking.