Calling Home
In the essay "Calling Home" by Jean Brandt, I strongly agree with the store's action of sending 13 year old Jean to jail for stealing a 75 cents Snoopy button. Although some might say this punishment is too harsh for a young girl, I think she learned a lesson that will serve her well throughout her life.
Brandt wrote that the thought of jail terrified her. In this passage, Jean thought frantically about her predicament: "The thought of going to jail terrified me, not because of jail itself, but because of the encounter with my parents afterward." (21) This fear of her parents' disapproval is a powerful one, and one that will deter her from committing similar offenses.
When the incident was finally over, Jean thought about its lasting effects. Here, she describes looking at her father and mother: "As I looked from my father's eyes to my mother's, I knew this ordeal was over. Although it would be never forgotten, the incident was not mentioned again." (23) Although the crime would not be mentioned again, Brandt will certainly remember it, and this will steer her from future offenses.
In conclusion I think that the action the store took for shoplifting a 75 cents item by a 13 year old girl was not excessive. The girl learned a lesson in life that she would never forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment