Samuel By Grace Paley Summary

We as a people need each other more than we may think. We may feel the stranger next door may not impact our lives, but from complex issues related to politics to face-to-face contact as in a sudden rescue emergency, our impact on each other’s lives is greater than we may recognize. With that need comes responsibility. Whether we are given a heads up on that role or not, it is critical as human beings that we learn to connect on our reliability with one another to enrich the lives around us. We are not as random nor different as we may assume at time.
In Samuel by Grace Paley, there were three reactions from different perspectives that all could have had a better impact on the “rowdy boys”. The reactions could have used better actions behind them is those reacting would have at least acknowledged that they were the adults. With time comes wisdom and the adults were wise enough to know that the boys were putting themselves in grave danger by jumping around on the train. Both men and women did not “like them to jiggle or jump” but decided they did not “want to interfere”. From the men excusing the boys as kids having fun to the women fearing embarrassment and placing the blame on their mothers that were not there, the adults completely submitted their authority to the kids leaving them to fend for themselves.
They recalled the innocent thrill and the risky consequences that came with it. They also paused to recognize that while the boys understandably enjoyed themselves, they were also “acting sort of stupid”. They could relate to the joy the boys were feeling. Therefore, the men had perhaps the biggest influence to prevent the boys from hurting themselves and worse their premature death. They also had a great opportunity to use their innate authority as men to use their experience and teach the boys why their actions were not the best choice to