Argumentative Essay: Long Way Down

Furthermore, dispatch also observed Gray opening the door leading to the lobby of the P.D. with his tee-shirt over his hand. In both situations it seems that Gray is trying to not leave his fingerprint. Gray and William then leave the police

However, during the elevator trip out of his building he encounters six people who try to make him reconsider his choice. Out of these six people, the fourth person, his dad Mikey, had the most impact on his decision. Mikey shows Will that if he kills someone, his life and relationships will never be the same. Will experiences what looking death in the eye feels like when his father holds the gun to his head and cocks the hammer. Learning

In the novel Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, we are introduced to Will, a fifteen-year-old boy who experienced his older brother, Shawn’s death. Where Will lives there are three major rules in his way of life including, no crying, no snitching, and getting revenge on anyone who has killed a loved one of yours. In his case he seeks revenge on his brother's alleged killer, Riggs. The story is set in an elevator as Will is on his way to carry out revenge. During each floor Will encounters ghosts of past family members or friends who made an impact on his life.

However, as Will descends in the elevator, he encounters the ghosts of those who have died in his community, including Shawn. Through these encounters, Will begins to question

Will’s brother was murdered and he wants to get revenge on the person who killed his brother, Shawn. He then goes in the elevator that leads to the lobby of his apartment complex. Which leads to Will seeing ghosts. Although some may argue that Long Way Down should end by Will following the rules, the best ending for this story is Will breaks the rules. Will makes many different interactions with people who he knew that died.

Before the death of Shawn, he told Will the story of how their dad “was killed for killing the man who killed our uncle” (Reynolds, 2017, pg 203). This evidence illustrates Mikey's downfall as analogous to the situation Will is currently in. Will is in pursuit of revenge against Riggs, his brother's alleged murderer. Based on Mikey’s path, Will’s quest for revenge will eventually lead to his demise. It is a valuable lesson for Will as he battles the cycle of revenge.

Everyone that showed up was encroaching on his drive for revenge for Shawn's death, whether it was Buck saying he didn’t have the audacity to do it, or Dani asking him why he would do that. Overall, all of these ghosts of essential people to Will show that he is hallucinating and learning the ramifications of getting revenge and that he does not need to fall victim to the cycles of

It was also foreshadowing that will vs going to take the gun and take revenge for shawn by using the

Mikey also tells Will that he decided to follow the rules in order to avenge Mark. Mikey went out late at night and waited for Gee to come around so that he could shoot him, which he did. After that, Mikey states “Couldn’t kiss your mother,/couldn’t kiss you boys/good night./Just lay naked/in the scummy bathtub,/the cold porcelain/keeping me from sleep/from nightmares.” Before he shot Gee, he probably thought that taking revenge for his brother, Mark, was going to make him feel better, but it only made him feel worse. The extreme guilt of shooting someone haunted him and caused him to become isolated from the world and his loved ones.

This next quote shows how young Will still is and adds more to the fact he is questioning The Rules. On page 227 Will says, “The gun pressed against/ the side of my face./ Was the first time I had/ ever had one to my head./ First time I had been that/ close to death. To the end” (227), making us realize that he has never been on the other side of a gun. This makes him worried and plays a factor into his decision to kill or not to kill Riggs. Once you’re on the other side of a gun it makes it harder for your conscience to kill someone.

When the book ends Will brings his gun up to his apartment, and does not get revenge on the person who killed his beloved brother. During Will’s time in the elevator he hears many stories of how his family members and friends tried getting revenge

That one bullet cost Shawn’s life, and the next may do the same for Will. These rules had a bad impact on many lives in their neighborhood. They saw revenge as an act of justice. They believed it was the right thing to do. Which is why Will wanted to kill

Which proves that it is okay to break a rule. At the end of the book, Shawn's spirit finally speaks and asks ¨you coming¨? This meant he was asking if Will will move forward with his revenge plot to certain death.

In his community there are three rules: No crying, no snitching, and always take revenge. Will, determined to kill his brother’s killer, goes into an elevator to find who he thinks killed Shawn. While in the elevator, he sees ghosts of people he once knew. They were all victims of The Rules. One person was his uncle who was shot.

Will’s emotions led him to considering making poor choices.