We_Real_Cool

Is Being Real Cool a Value One Should Have' As we found out on the first day of class, each individual has their own values. While I may value love, leisure, and intelligence, my classmate may find more significance in money, spirituality, and creativity. Within each book and poem that we read in class, we were able to draw out different values that each character portrayed. Some values were obvious while others were not. The one reading I found very appealing and filled with values was "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. What intrigued me was how some of the values the poem’s characters possessed were not the typical choice one would assume. To borrow a line from another reading, they seem to have taken “the road less travelled.” "We Real Cool" definitely has a powerful message behind it. Gwendolyn Brooks illustrates the essence of troubled teenagers who value certain things many may not agree with. In addition, they will eventually suffer the ill-fated possibility that life renders a human being if they continue to keep the same values and live the lifestyle of the streets - death. Throughout the poem Brooks shows how the seven teenagers obviously value the things labeled “wealth or fun” more than those labeled “life, liberty, and truth.” The teenagers are obviously not too fond about attending school. Therefore, they skip and find solace and pleasure at a pool facility. It seems as if the teenagers really do not care about their education and go day by day living a carefree lifestyle. The happiness that they are feeling by playing pool supports that theory. They sing. They drink. In all, they do anything to capture that feeling of ecstasy. A nonchalant attitude about the players' persona clearly resonates throughout the poem. While the kids consider this “happiness,” it seems to be more of a short-lived happiness compared to what I value in love, romance, or friendship. In a more in depth analysis of the final line which refers to death, the subtitle of the poem states: THE POOL PLAYERS. SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL. The number "seven" has the aura of good fortune while the boys shoot pool. Moreover, the word "golden" typifies prosperity and happiness, akin to how the boys are feeling. However, the word "shovel" signifies an ominous sign, relating to death, casket, funeral, and later burial. Brooks implies that street people will eventually die soon. These young men are obviously street people because they are not in school. They have no education, live a carefree life, and can care less about school because they find it tedious. Therefore, that will make it difficult for them to find a job and live a decent lifestyle, which leaves them no choice but to live the street life. Their lives have no direction, and they do not really care about anything - not even their wellbeing for the future. They have no sense of themselves and are not aware of the importance of education, which will eventually become their downfall. Their poor decision serves no advantage to them in any way, because they will not be active participants in society. Without a high school diploma, their journey to find a decent job will be limited. Such difficulty may possibly turn the boys into criminals. These seven boys chose different values than what most believe are the correct ones. They are more interested in the things that produce immediate results such as money, freedom, recreation, enjoyment, etc... While some of these values can be very beneficial and desirable by many, these boys took the wrong approach to achieving them. Instead of working for their money, they most likely gained wealth in an illegal manner. Instead of fighting for the freedom we all cherish, these boys simply did as pleased. Instead of earning recreation and enjoyment by contributing to society, they just took it. I am not saying I do not value some of the same things these boys did, I just believe they took them instead of earned them. The entire tone of the poem is very upbeat; however, the tone changes dramatically at the end with the following statement: "We die soon." This one line alone says a lot. The things we value may come at a cost. While it may be wonderful to just live it up like the boys in the pool hall, you must weigh your values. Maybe if they would have valued knowledge and longevity in addition to wealth and fun they would have made different life decisions. Unfortunately, even though the poem was written in 1960, it mirrors the situation of today. Many young men and even young women skip class everyday and eventually many of them dropout of school. Parents need to teach the importance of values more as their children grow. It is not wrong to value money, fame, or entertainment. I believe that every value on the list you provided is important to me. The way to a happy and successful life is knowing how to weigh those values correctly and when to change the order as you age.