Austin Elliott 104 Sand Hill Rd Lawndale, NC 28090Prof.

Padgett ENGL 1102 Date704-692-1227 Interpretive Essay After reading the short story Poachers, one could question the morals behind it and the rhetorical effectiveness that it brings to deliver its message. As I read it, I began to wonder how these events used could contribute to everyday society, then it hit me its not the how the characters in the story are portrayed , but it is the events that are used to bring rhetoric alive. In the beginning of the story, I noticed that we are shown three boys that are, in essence, left alone to fend for themir selves. Throughout the story we are shown the lack of sustaining morals that the boys have, of how they participate in illegal activities and do not possess those morals that normal people share. These three boys tell the story of the life that they have lived, through their actions along with their personalities. As we look into these characters we can begin to see the rhetorical approach that the author uses to deliver the story. The activities of the story are ones that we could not fathom happening in the society around us. Using this, the author is able to take the reader to a different world, for say, while these types of situations occur around us on a daily basis. While reading this piece the audience is supposed to be left in disbelief of how the boy showed no mercy to kill the game warder, as shown by the text Neil stood up with his hands raised, as if to surrender. When the game warden looked at him, relief softening his eyes, Kent jumped from his crouch into the other
Comment [AP6]: What do you mean by society? I dont think what is taking place is outside what a person could fathom. We (the general populace) can fathom a lot these days, I think. Comment [AP7]: Again, Im not sure what you are getting at here. Comment [AP8]: Is boy the right word? Comment [AP2]: People could do a lot of things. Try to avoid these empty openers and get into the paper. Comment [AP3]: Avoid these colloquial phrasings. This is an academic paper, so think of what conventions that genre of writing expects. Comment [AP4]: I dont know what you mean by this. Comment [AP5]: You need to look into your comma usage. I would suggest getting a handbook on English grammar. Comment [AP1]: Can you come up with a more creative title?

boat, his big fingers closing around the mans neck(Franklin 136), or by electrifying fish. But it shows a way of life that they have always lived. One that involves doing tasks that they deem necessary to maintain their own way of life. Even though this is the only life that they know, does it make their situation acceptable? The author shows through Kirxys character that he believes that the boys actions should be acceptable, using the quote from Kirxy as he is talking to sheriff Goodloe, Shit Sugarbaby. Them boys dont need a lawyer. They just need to stay in the woods, where they belong. Folks oughta know to let em alone by now (Franklin 142). I believe that this is the underlying goal that the author wishes to present. If the audience truly takes the time to evaluate this information then they can begin to realize that in our society we take things such as this to be acceptable. For instance do we allow a murder to go to jail for the rest of their life, or to be punished by death if they can prove that they are mentally unstable? Of course we dont, that is why so many crooked people g et away with crimes they commit. So when you ask yourself again, can we truly hold these boys to the same standards that we hold other to? Based on previous cases relevant to this the answer would be no. After reviewing this from this perspective one can begin to see that the events that the boys partake in may not be so farfetched ideas after all. Again I believe that the author used the events that form the characters to bring to life, real-life occurrence around us. Maybe after reading this one would be better able to understand the circumstances that the boys live in and be able to determine if the standards that they are held to should be the same as everybody else, and see the effectiveness of the
Comment [AP11]: Why? Comment [AP10]: You seem to be talking about the complacency of people and justice. Comment [AP9]: Im not sure Im convinced that this is what Kirxy is saying. I think he is just saying that if they are left alone, they will break all the laws they want, but wont cause further trouble or hurt anyone else. That their violent nature is something to be feared.

authors approach. He may just be showing us that we need to review things that we allow to occur in our own society. Work Cited Franklin, Tom. "Poachers." Poachers. London: Flamingo, 2000. 136. Print.
Comment [AP12]: Im not sure what you are arguing here. what is the story saying about ethics or morals? I think the paragraph before this is almost making an argument, but not quite. Your quote about what kirxy says is interesting and could lead to a further exploration about what the story says about morality and justice. Does the story invite us to questions that justice means or about the convoluted nature about a justice system or about how we handle very bad people? You need to argue this more thoroughly. Find more evidence and have a discussion on the topic. Also, you need a more concrete thesis. Something that gives the paper a stronger sense of purpose and meaning. You need to be proving your case. Presenting two or three examples in a 50 page text doesnt really do it. Comment [AP13]: You dont need page numbers

Franklin, Tom. "Poachers." Poachers. London: Flamingo, 2000. 142. Print.