Reader Response to Sonny and the Old Man

Sonny’s character in The Flowers has had a smart mouth and has been pocketing loose change up onto this point, but when he’s walking home from the bowling alley one night he accidentally bumps into an old man. After some name calling on both parts, the old man tries to grab Sonny’s and and throw some punches. Sonny manages to move out of the way and lands some punches of his own and doesn’2t stop until the old man is on the floor which is when Sonny’s runs off with the mans wallet. This all occurred during pages 146-147. 

The entire time while I was reading this I couldn't believe Sonny was really fighting with an old man. I sympathized with him when he mentioned how he didn’t want to yell or fight with the man but he felt like he couldn't just stand there and do nothing. I think at this point in the story it is clear that Sonny isn’t the type of character to really keep his anger inside. I think that the author meant for us to be appalled by what sonny was doing but still be able to relate because we’ve all done things out of anger that we aren't proud of. 

My own values made me angry while reading this passage because Sonny didn’t just act on self defense he acted out of anger and greed. Sonny could have just gotten himself out of the situation and ran away but instead he stayed and was unhappy until the man was on the ground. “I threw at that old man right in his stinky hocico, and then I hit on his face again. He didn't fall, and he was saying something to me, so i hit him again too-mas harder, because even though he was a little dazed, he wasn’t going to stop--a couple more times and he did stop.” This short passage was very powerful in my opinion because Sonny took things to a level I never imagined he would. It was obvious up to this point in the story that Sonny’s stealing was getting more out of hand and that it seemed to be occurring the most out of anger instead of need. Once Sonny was sitting in the Bel Air looking at how little this old man had in his wallet, I couldn't help but read this with my values and emotions in mind. Sonny stole this poor old mans wallet who barely had a penny to his name and didn't even have any pictures or ID. It was like this old man could have never existed and no one would have known the difference. i felt pity for the old man because we never learned his name or about his family. 

Sonny does feel sorry for taking this mans wallet which is apparent when he’s sitting in the Bel Air counting the money. “I was feeling sick. It was sad this old dude didn’t have nothing. why’d he have to go after me? It was his own fault, but i felt sorry and dirty.” After reading this I almost forgave Sonny for doing what he did because I could sympathize and at least he felt bad.