e often make choices, but these choices are made within a specific set of parameters. If a man was walking on a trail in the woods and he was faced with a sharp drop off, he could choose what side to go down, to wait at the top, or to jump; he could not, however make the decision of how the path continues. He only has the choice of how he is going to react to the adversity, and his reaction is going to dictate the rest of his life. Gueux, much like the man at the edge of the cliff, had the decision on what his actions were when faced with adversity. Gueux was a man that was responsible for the care and well being of his family and he was having trouble finding work to support his family. With these barriers in his way Gueux made the choice to resort to a life of crime in order to support his family. The crime was not severe or damaging to any other human, but it was wrong nonetheless and he was caught and punished accordingly. Gueux was not forced by his environment to make the decision to steal, but he had few, if any, alternative choices that would feed his family. He made the decision to take the piece of bread and the coal; he however made this decision with a clear and conscious mind. This situation is commonly argued among psychologists who share opposite views; one believing that man makes his own decisions, and the other believing that people are molded by society. Who is right? Both are, no man is ever drawn into making a decision by outside forces, yet these forces can make an influence on the decision. As the path that Gueux travels upon gets more coarse, he is faced with more difficult and life altering choices. After he is incarcerated for larceny, he had to make due with his surroundings and make choices that would allow him to survive in the prison. Eventually he finds a man that befriends him; Gueux was able to make his life a little more placid with his companion. These two however were too open about their camaraderie ...
