SCR (Statement, Citation, Reasoning)
Statement: In "The Man in the Well" by Ira Sher, the story explores the moral dilemma of whether to help a man trapped in a well, emphasizing the potential dangers and consequences of such assistance, which can justify prioritizing personal safety and comfort.
Citation: In the story, the narrator and the other children hear the man's calls for help but are initially hesitant to get too close to the well. The narrator reflects, “We kept our distance, feeling both the pull of his desperate voice and the threat of danger.” This line illustrates their internal conflict and apprehension regarding the man's predicament.
Reasoning: The primary danger in helping the man lies in the potential for emotional and physical risks to the would-be rescuers. First, the children might fear that their involvement could lead to unexpected harm, such as the man being dangerous or the possibility of the well collapsing further. Additionally, there is a psychological burden that could weigh heavily on them; witnessing human suffering can affect children's mental health. By prioritizing their own safety and comfort, the children are able to avoid these risks, which can be justified because self-preservation is a fundamental instinct. Ultimately, this moral quandary reflects a broader human struggle between empathy and self-protection, making their decision to refrain from assisting understandable, even as it elicits feelings of guilt.
1 answer