English 9
Mr. Kinrick
20 May 2012
Male Role Models, Do Boys Need Them or Not?
Role models can influence young boys in good ways and in bad ways. Good role models can help young boys develop positive characteristics and bad role models can help young boys develop negative characteristics. In general, good role models help young boys set good goals, develop good values and make good decisions. It is interesting that sometimes, a bad role model can have a positive influence on a young boy. For example, a young boy can observe bad behavior and decide that he does not want to copy that bad behavior. However, this is an exception. In general, young boys should seek to copy the behavior of good role models and avoid bad role models. As young boys grow into men, they develop their values and learn how to make decisions and how to choose right from wrong. Young boys need good male role models.
In the four stories covered by this paper, are examples of boys following role models. Some follow good role models and some choose bad ones. In Old Man and the Sea, there is one boy, Manolin and one role model, the old man. The old man is a good role model and Manolin benefits and learn valuable lessons. In Lord of the Flies, there are several boys and several role models, but the two main role models are Jack and Ralph. The boys learn how to do things the right way from Ralph, the good role model, and how to do things the wrong way from Jack, the bad role model. In Of Mice and Men, George, an intelligent and cynical man is the role model. Lennie, a man of limited abilities, is protected by his role model, George. George and Lenny are friends. Their relationship is beneficial to each of them because George is able to protect his friend, Lennie and, Lennie can avoid being abused by other people because he is protected by his role model. In Hamlet, there is no obvious role model. Hamlet shows that people can make decisions without a role model.