Socrates as Depicted in Equal Opportunities Essay

The story, “Equal opportunity” provides the reader with an opportunity to understand the difficulties faced by the poor in their day-to-day life. Through the main character, ‘Socrates’ the author elaborates the life of a poor man who finds it difficult to reintegrate back into normal social life after a lengthy period in Indiana prison. Socrates presents a number of character traits that reflect the life of many people in modern day society. This paper however focuses on three major character traits, namely, determination, remorsefulness and courageousness.

Socrates reflects the day-to-day life of a poor man who is determined to live on. Despite the insults, abuses, and neglect, the poor man lives on. Socrates is determined and despite constantly being denied a job at Santa Monica supermarket, he does not give up and keeps going to the same place hoping that the supervisor will finally give up and give him the job (Smolensky 1). He represents a group of people in society who are ready and willing to struggle hard in order to get what they believe they deserve. He tells the supervisor that he needs the job in order to pay for the phone. This is despite being informed that he needs the phone as a pre-qualification for the job. This is an indescribable level of determination. Most people would have given up easily and sought other possible places. Generally, he believes that his status is not incapacitated. This is perhaps the kind of determination that keeps many poor people within the society, moving. His determination lands him a job at the supermarket as the security men put it, the manager wants to “give guys a chance (Mosley 86).” The job is directly a product of his determination.

Socrates also stands out as a representation of bravery amongst the poor people. He applies for a job as a packer and delivery man at a Santa Monica supermarket but he is rejected based on his appearance (poverty). However, he does not simply accept it as cowardly. He stands up against the supervisor, even when he has been threatened with a possible arrest. He expresses his opinion as he deems it appropriate. He knows that his rejection is not about qualification and neither is it a result of the alleged phone he doesn’t have but has more to do with his social status. His voice, reflects the voice of many poor men within the society who are crying for equal access to opportunities as their wealthy and well known counterparts. It is not just about the strength to do a job but rather the qualification. He stands out for the many people who have good qualifications but are unable to get jobs, just because of their status within society. He expresses bravery by standing against the status quo until he gets the job that would enable him live righteously. His belief in bravery is well summarized when says to Darryl, “You stood up for yourself…. That’s all a black man could do (Mosley 81).”

Remorse is a character greatly expressed by Socrates. He is deeply affected by the life he has lived from childhood. He believes that if many children got the right guidance, perhaps they wouldn’t just end up like he has done. He is affected by the fact they lost their house many years ago and the many times they had to go hungry. He regrets the fact that upon reaching his teen, rather than salvage the two women who loved her most form such misery; he took to drinking and aimless wondering which caused them a lot of pain. Ending up in prison denied him the opportunity to apologize to his mother for the wrongs he had done (Smolensky 1). He is remorseful and feels that he owes his deceased mother, a righteous life. It is the remorse in him that makes him embark on a job search that would allow him to lead a righteous life. However, reintegration back into society is difficult as the society is not willing to fully accept him back into their midst. His remorse helps him advise Darryl who incidentally has killed another boy and does not know what to do. He tells him, ‘As long as you live you could do something (82).’He wants to save other children who are affected by drugs just like he was years back.

In general, Socrates’ character is a direct mirror of typical poor men who are victimized by appearance. Most employers for instance, want job seekers to be neat and presentable not realizing that to be neat, one has to have a job and hence cash that can sustain the same. He stands out as the voice of the oppressed in a bid to salvage the little that is left of their lives. More importantly, he reflects the will and hence determination that drives poor men through with life even when things are so tough. Despite the oppression, there reaches a time when a poor man is so pressed and demands what his rightful his. Socrates is therefore a mirror reflection of modern day society. His character mirrors the forgotten classes who have to work hard and toil for everything they earn. For this class, living a righteous life calls for determination, commitment and bravery.

References

Mosley, Walter. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned: Equal Opportunities. Washington DC: Washington Square Press.

Smolensky, Ira. “Equal Opportunity.” Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition. Salem Press, 2007. Web.