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Barrio"The confrontation" by Raymond Barrio and "The Fight" by Nathaniel Wright were similar in that both main characters in the stories were male and demanded their respect.Both main characters showed defiance against someone else who made them feel disrespected and dishonored.In "The Confrontation" Manuel shows defiance by speaking out to Morales a feared authority in the field(workplace).Morales is the "contratista" the man who recruits and keeps his own people "in check" for his bosses the gueros."Whenever Roberto Morales spoke, Manuel had to force himself not to answer.He had to keep his temper from flaring".Manuel was a picker, and worked long exhausting hours.He compares himself to an animal, and his workplace to a jail that he felt trapped in,and had wondered was there an escape to this.At the end of a hard days work Morales tells the pickers he has to take two cents from every pickers buckets.Morales knows he has the upper hand and since he is in power and knows the pickers can't afford to lose more out their paycheck he thinks they wouldn't dare speak out,which is when Manuel astonishes everyone when he speaks out and says to Morales that he promised not to take anything away from them.Then the other pickers find themselves studying the scenario and feeling upset also, which is when they all take a stand next to their buckets ,after Manuel accidently tips over one of his buckets and then over another one.Morales then says to all the pickers he's not taking anything from them , fearing the whole possibility of the riot that was about to form.Manuel felt such a thrill and small sense of empowerment and victory but knew he would later have to pay for his defiance.He says he discovered that man does count for something, that the bosses might not give a damn about the issue but that was food out of their families mouths.He realizes though there will be consequences he discovers respect and honor are two very important things and he felt in that moment that he stood up for it. In "The fight" the main character is a young boy who is encountering his first day at a new school , in a new neighborhood that he just moved to.The boy awaits the moment which the other boys will pick on him.The biggest concern for the main character is how he will gain respect at this new school and how he will "get along" with the other boys. He has his mind in defense mode and when you await something, yes it can most likely occurr.The main character then says "This was my test. If I failed now, I would have failed at school, for the first trial came not in books but in how one's fellows took one, what value they placed upon one's willingness to fight".He similar to Manuel in "The Confrontation" felt one's self value and strength was the most important aspect of a mans life.Both characters fought in different ways for their respect and not to be abused of.The difference is that in my perspective Manuel stood up for himself in bigger necessity than the character in "The Fight" did in which in Manuels case it was him fighting against exploition and corruption.It was a fight of a man who worked very hard for food for his family, and his bit of money that was guaranteed was going to be reduced which Manuel could not afford.Manuel stood up for what he believed risking more than what I think the boy in "The Fight"did.They were both fights against abuse and neglection from those around them, but if one could have been avoided it would have been the violence in "The Fight".It was in the characters decision whether he wanted to be the "tough guy" but in Manuels situation he had no choice or he'd risk his salary and being taken advantage at work whenever Morales decided. Overall the lesson in both stories is honor and respect are a great part of life.One is born with natural rights that one will not live without ,and will risk oneself for.A man needs his respect, and all humans need to be treated fairly, because ones worth is more important than anything.
a_beauty18@hotmail.com
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