Because of their outside appearance, society often judges people.
Evan Hunter’s story, On the Sidewalk Bleeding, shows how people judge other people based on their appearances. Andy, who is the protagonist of this story, is described as a bad person due to his Royal Jacket. He regrets his decision to join the gang. Andy was thrown into conflict with people, society and himself. Andy is shown as someone other than his true self in this story. Andy was a conflict with others and got hurt. He was stabbed just ten minutes before. He was stabbed ten minutes ago.
Andy was stabbed by a Guardians member. The Guardians, like the Royals, hate one another. They view all Royals as one person, but they don’t see the person underneath the jacket. This is why Andy was stabbed by the guy who was part and parcel of the Royals. People didn’t help him by him lying down with his jacket on his chest. He took his jacket off and held it up in his hands. “A Royal, huh?” (Hunter). He is a Royal, and people won’t help him. They are not moved by Andy’s wearing of a Royal jacket. Andy discovered that society dislikes him because of his membership in the Royals. Andy was first found drunk by another person. Andy can’t do much but smile and tell the world. “What’s up buddy?” He smiled. (Hunter). This is an indication that Andy’s friends and family don’t want him to suffer, but they do smile. This is because Andy belonged to the Royals. Freddie, a Guardian, won’t help Andy as Andy was a Royal. “I don’t know. I don’t want this to happen. He is a Royal. We’ll help him, and then the Guardians will come down on us.” (Hunter). This shows society’s hatred for the Royals. Andy realizes at the end that he was wrong. Andy makes arguments about the virtues and disadvantages of being Royal. Andy screamed incoherently, “I am Andy!” (Hunter). Andy then realizes who and what he is. He begins to realize that Royals is only a title for society. Andy discovered that his jacket would protect him from injury if he didn’t. Andy had never hated the knife. The knife hated only purple jackets. (Hunter). Andy makes arguments about the pros of being a Royal. He learns that being Royal doesn’t make the best of things.
The novel is filled with conflict, and Andy finds himself in conflict with people, society and himself. Andy was in a Royals jacket and was stabbed. Because they believe all Royals are evil, people didn’t want Andy to be helped. Andy discovers that Royals is just an insult and that Andy is Andy. Royals is just another label that Andy isn’t happy with. Andy died from hatred of the Royals in society.
Works cited
Evan Hunter, Sidewalk Bleeding
