Monday, April 18, 2011

Q & A Questions


  1. Throughout the book Ram does commit crimes such as stealing and even trying to kill someone, but they are all for a good cause (for example to save someone else) or for his own suvival. Do you think that his motives justify him? Should he be punished?

  2. Some people view the book as a sort of modern fairytale, while others see it as an accurate representation of Indian street life. From what you know about the book and how Ram is treated in it, what do you think?

21 comments:

Kyle N.1-2 said...

1. I think it is okay to kill in self defense or to save someone else's life. He shouldn't be punished if he tried to save someone, as that is the right thing to do. I'm not sure with stealing, but I don't know the situation he was in.

2. I think it can be both from what I've heard. The story seems to be interesting and have a "fairytale" ending, but at the same time it portrays a poor Indian boy's life.

Sara D. 7-8 said...

1) I understand that he did what he did was for a good cause, but I feel like the problems could have been solved in a different way. i think he should get punished for stealing, but if the guy he killed was a villian, then I don't think he should be punished. Although murder is a bigger deal, Ram would have probably saved future lives by killing this man. Therefore, I think it depends on the situation.

Josie D 7/8 said...

1. I think that while what he was doing was still wrong, it was what he had to do. He had to steal in order to survive and it seems he killed whoever it was in order to protect someone else. He should not be punished for saving a life.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

1). I do not believe he should be punished for the crimes he committed because it was for a good cause, such as saving another's life. Though, I agree with Sarah. He could have found a better solution than stealing.

Abby M. 1-2 said...

Josie, I agree with you. He did what he had to do in the situation

Abby M. 1-2 said...

Kyle, you are right in saying that it is a little bit of both. It's hard to know if the story actually portrays what life is actually like for Ram or someone like him becuase we have never been there. Swarup writes in a way though to make the story seem totally plausible.

Sarah N. 7-8 said...

1. I think that sometimes situations call for drastic measures. However, I think it is hard to justify killing a person. If my life, or someone important to me was in danger, I could see where you would kill someone. I agree with Sara if the man was a murderer I think that if you killed him you would save others, which is more justified.

Tyler W 1-2 said...

1. I believe that it is acceptable to commit crime for good.

Lisa T. 1-2 said...

1. There are definitely situations in which crimes are justified, but I guess it really depends on the situation. If having good intentions results in sacrificing the wellbeing of undeserving people, the law might have a less subjective point of view about what is worth doing so.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I agree with everyone. I don't think what he did would be acceptable in a regular situation, but he did what he had to in order to survive and to save someone else.

2. I think the story has a little bit of both. When Ram tells his lawyer about his life, it explains to the reader the harsh realities of street life. However, Ram does have a fairytale ending.

Have a good Easter :)

Sarah N. 7-8 said...

2. I agree with both Sydney and Kyle. I think that the story is a little bit of both. It is hard to tell if life is really like that for people like him in India. He does explain the hardships of life, which is true for some people, but it is hard to say if it is accurate for the majority of people.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

1. I think that it was okay for Ram to do what he did. He was trying to survive and save someone else. He had good intentions, even if it seemed like bad decisions. He was trying to help.

2. I think the book represents a little of both like Sarah said. He ends up living a fairytale by winning the million but it also shows the street life and how brutal it is.

Heather B. 1-2 said...

1.) I think that, although what he did is criminal, he should not be punished because his intentions were not criminal. He did not steal just to steal and he did not try to kill someone just to kill someone. He had valid reasons for everything he did.

2. I think first and foremost it is a story, like a fairy tale, but there were most likely some grains of truth to the story.

Ashley B. 1-2 said...

I do not think that he should be punished. It was for a good cause and out of self defense.

I think it represents both the views of a fairytale and reality. It seems like it can be viewed from both angles.

Andrew C 7-8 said...

I think he should not be punished for his actions. He had to kill out of self defense and had no choice but to do this without risking his own life.

I thinks the story contains classic parts of a fairytale but also contains some truthful information.

Spencer P. 1-2 said...

1. One of the problems with society is that people often do have to turn to crime or wrongdoings out of necessity. I do not thing he should be punished because the ends do in this case justify the means.
2. I believe it is an unfortunate representation of life. To some it may seem like a fairy tale because of their lifestyle and experiences, but often things like this can happen to ordinary people.

Adam B. 7-8 said...

1. I think his motives are justified because he is doing these things out of self defense. I agree with Sara that he could have found a better way to do things.

Hannah K. 1-2 said...

1) I think it depends on each crime- if he tried to kill because there was no other way of saving another life, then that is justified. If he stole from people that could make do without whatever her stole, for his own survival, then I think that is also justified.
2) I don't see why it can't be both- I've heard that the book gives accurate descriptions, but that doesn't mean that it cannot also have a romantic, Cinderella-esque plotline.

Nathan S. 7-8 said...

1. I think he shouldn't be punished; he did these things not because it was the easy way out, but because it was the only choice (queue a Mr. Couch "Liberal/communist!" comment)

AnaleeL7-8 said...

1) I believe that his actions are purely self defense and he shouldnt be punished.

Rafiq O. 1-2 said...

1.) I think it's wrong to kill, but in this case he's saving lives so it's not completely okay with me, but I'd rather it be that way then to have someone innocent die...

2.)I agree with Hannah that the story could be both :)