He describes the incident as the only time he would see a white man on his knees doing something for a black man for free. Packer, through this short story, writes about something common to most humans. Everyone has a moment in their lives where they are insulted, denigrated, abused, or in any way made into a victim. The natural human psychological response is for revenge, or some method of recovering the pride, power, or whatever personal aspect that was lost when they became a victim. This revenge does not even have to be directed at the original aggressor, but at anyone they can affect. This perpetuates a cycle of aggression and revenge that eventually affects even those completely unrelated to the original act. The Brownie Troop, spurred by jealousy, a general dislike of white people, and the belief they were victims of Troop 909, attempt to avenge themselves by “teaching them a lesson.” Laurel’s father likewise abuses the kindness of the Mennonites as a revenge for all the abuse and discrimination he has most likely suffered as a black man at the hands of white
He describes the incident as the only time he would see a white man on his knees doing something for a black man for free. Packer, through this short story, writes about something common to most humans. Everyone has a moment in their lives where they are insulted, denigrated, abused, or in any way made into a victim. The natural human psychological response is for revenge, or some method of recovering the pride, power, or whatever personal aspect that was lost when they became a victim. This revenge does not even have to be directed at the original aggressor, but at anyone they can affect. This perpetuates a cycle of aggression and revenge that eventually affects even those completely unrelated to the original act. The Brownie Troop, spurred by jealousy, a general dislike of white people, and the belief they were victims of Troop 909, attempt to avenge themselves by “teaching them a lesson.” Laurel’s father likewise abuses the kindness of the Mennonites as a revenge for all the abuse and discrimination he has most likely suffered as a black man at the hands of white