"The Man Who Was Almost a Man": My Reaction

First off, I'd like to point out that this blog post was influenced in no way by the fantastic presentation given by Tyler, Brandon, and Austin on Wednesday. As much as they discussed the decisions that contribute to one becoming a man, I've been considering writing as much about Dave since my last post about "The Guest". Excuses aside, their presentation touched on what I found to be the main point in "The Man Who Was Almost a Man"; Dave's inability to distinguish the difference between acting like a man and actually being a man.

Dave's issue begins when he confuses owning a gun with manhood. In Dave's mind, the act of buying and possessing a gun indicates adulthood. He thinks that the adults in his town will stop looking down at him as a boy after they realize that he owns something so powerful. Unfortunately for Dave, being a man is much more than having power; being a man is about knowing exactly what to do with the power that you have.

Ironically, Dave's incident with the gun proves how much of a boy he truly is (as opposed to proving himself a man, which he was trying to do). Dave, like any other young boy would do, allows curiosity to get the best of him. He decides that owning the gun is not enough, and that he wants to shoot it. Unfortunately, shooting a gun with closed eyes never seems to work out well for anyone involved. Dave shoots Jenny the mule in the ribs, which soon leads to her death.

It is at this point that Dave must make a decision: admit his mistake and pay the consequences, as any true man would do, or choose to run from the problem and create excuses for his actions. As the Mighty Ducks stated in their presentation, Dave's future down either path is dramatically different. Down one road is consequence, forgiveness, redemption, and respect. Down another, disappointment, abandonment, and regret.

Dave proves beyond a reasonable doubt his adolescence when he chooses to run away. His inability to understand the differences between boyhood and manhood lead him to make a horrible decision. A young boy roaming the country with only a gun stands little to no chance of even surviving, let alone living a fulfilling life. While I understand Dave's longing for respect, his child-like attempt at earning it led him away from his friends, his family, and his entire life.