Respect and Status in Violence

Kevin Powers and Geoffrey Canada both describe violence and its effects on people in their novels. They assert that violence profoundly changes a person; however, they differ on the merits of these changes. Canada concludes that violence teaches people and helps them grow, while Powers concludes that it dehumanizes and scars them. The two authors also disagree on the necessity of violence. Specifically, Canada argues that violence is necessary and is used to gain distinction and status, while Powers argues that violence is unnecessary and causes people to lose their singularity and identity. Even further, Canada believes violence protects the boys and their lives, while Powers believes violence kills the young soldiers. From their personal experiences, Canada claims boys in the South Bronx need to be violent to gain respect and to survive, while Powers claims the violence of war is a waste of young men’s lives as they lose respect and even their lives.

Geoffrey Canada’s characters in Fist Stick Knife Gun use violence to increase their status and honor, and to make themselves stand out from the rest of their group as being more powerful. Canada’s violence is necessary to his characters as it is their only way to distinguish different people’s power. Canada’s characters also use violence to save their lives, as the adults in their life cannot protect the children. Canada writes: “status was a major issue for boys on the block” (Canada 18), a very blunt yet compelling statement that describes the importance of “status” for the boys on the block. “On the block,” respect and power means everything, as social order is decided by these qualities. Canada argues that in the South Bronx this “status” and social order could only be decided ...

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... Canada’s violence that had the purpose of gaining respect. Canada’s violence helped him survive the block and eventually learn and grow enough to make it out of the ghetto while Powers’ violence kept him trapped in a war he did not believe in where he was not fighting for himself. They feel differently about the necessity and merits of violence due to the different violence that they each experienced. In general the situation and setting decides whether violence is necessary or respectable. Canada’s violence gained him individuality and status, but Powers’ violence removed his distinction and dehumanized him; Canada’s violence gained him respect while Powers’ violence lost it. Combining their two assessments of violence, fighting among boys to survive and earn respect can be necessary and just, while fighting to kill others loses soldiers respect and is unnecessary.