The Step Not Taken
The Step Not Taken by Paul D'Angelo
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The Step Not Taken by Paul D'Angelo
The Step Not Taken by Paul D'Angelo provides an indication of how people act in the modern era. Though Paul feels guilty, very few people generate the same sense of remorse when dealing with other individuals. The modern premise is to run away from problems, and people-having problems create a greater incentive to run away because it is not a personal problem. This is the case when dealing with strangers, and D’Angelo illustrated the normal response when dealing with strangers. In addition, friends he tells of his action validate his actions, and it validates the modern era of perspective.
“I was astonished to see the young man drop his briefcase and burst into tears. Our eye met for a split second and, as if slapped, he averted his face from me”(D’Angelo, n.d.). This is a typical encounter between two strangers on an elevator the man in the elevator with D’Angelo is distraught, and Paul only looks at the man. In response, the man hides his shame by averting his face. This coincides with the male stereotype of fear of being seen crying. The latter is believed to be a sign of weakness. D’Angelo was only interested in seeing the man but not enquire why he was crying.
“And what I did next still shames me. The elevator stopped at the 10th floor… I stepped out”(D’Angelo, n.d.). D’Angelo chooses to run away from the problem given that the man is a stranger. This is a normal response in the modern era where people choose to ignore people in problems because “it is not your concern”(D’Angelo, n.d.). D’Angelo states his action still shames him because his conscience implored him to aid the sobbing man. However, “I didn’t know what to do. So I did nothing.”
“And now he haunts me. Not with fear, of course, but with a sense of regret”(D’Angelo, n.d.). The notion of haunting suggests Paul acted against his normal rationale of judgment. The quote implies Paul would
Name:
Institution:
The Step Not Taken by Paul D'Angelo
The Step Not Taken by Paul D'Angelo provides an indication of how people act in the modern era. Though Paul feels guilty, very few people generate the same sense of remorse when dealing with other individuals. The modern premise is to run away from problems, and people-having problems create a greater incentive to run away because it is not a personal problem. This is the case when dealing with strangers, and D’Angelo illustrated the normal response when dealing with strangers. In addition, friends he tells of his action validate his actions, and it validates the modern era of perspective.
“I was astonished to see the young man drop his briefcase and burst into tears. Our eye met for a split second and, as if slapped, he averted his face from me”(D’Angelo, n.d.). This is a typical encounter between two strangers on an elevator the man in the elevator with D’Angelo is distraught, and Paul only looks at the man. In response, the man hides his shame by averting his face. This coincides with the male stereotype of fear of being seen crying. The latter is believed to be a sign of weakness. D’Angelo was only interested in seeing the man but not enquire why he was crying.
“And what I did next still shames me. The elevator stopped at the 10th floor… I stepped out”(D’Angelo, n.d.). D’Angelo chooses to run away from the problem given that the man is a stranger. This is a normal response in the modern era where people choose to ignore people in problems because “it is not your concern”(D’Angelo, n.d.). D’Angelo states his action still shames him because his conscience implored him to aid the sobbing man. However, “I didn’t know what to do. So I did nothing.”
“And now he haunts me. Not with fear, of course, but with a sense of regret”(D’Angelo, n.d.). The notion of haunting suggests Paul acted against his normal rationale of judgment. The quote implies Paul would