"In Broad Daylight" is a short story by Harry Crews that tells the tale of a small town in the Deep South and the tensions that exist between its residents. At the center of the story is a young man named Sonny, who is struggling to find his place in the world and to assert his independence from his overbearing mother.
The story begins with Sonny waking up early on a Saturday morning, feeling restless and eager to get out of the house. He is tired of living in the shadow of his mother, who is a devout Baptist and fiercely protective of her son. Despite his desire to break free and make his own way, Sonny is torn between his loyalty to his mother and his own desire for freedom.
As the day progresses, Sonny finds himself drawn to a group of boys who are causing trouble in the town. They are rough and unruly, and Sonny is initially intimidated by their reckless behavior. But as he spends more time with them, he begins to feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie that he has never experienced before.
As the day wears on, the group's antics escalate, and they begin to cause more and more damage around town. Despite his reservations, Sonny finds himself caught up in the thrill of it all and begins to participate in the vandalism and destruction.
Eventually, the group's actions come to a head when they set fire to a local store. Sonny is horrified by what he has done, and he realizes that he has gone too far. In a moment of clarity, he decides to turn himself in and confess to the authorities.
In the end, Sonny is punished for his actions and must make amends for the damage he has caused. But in the process, he also comes to understand that he must make his own choices and live with the consequences of those choices. The story ends with Sonny reconciling with his mother and beginning to forge his own path in life, free from her controlling influence.
Overall, "In Broad Daylight" is a thought-provoking and poignant tale that explores the complexities of family relationships, the struggle to find one's place in the world, and the power of redemption.
"In Broad Daylight" is a short story by Harry Crews about a man named Mack Finley who lives in a small town in Florida. Mack is a large, muscular man who is known for his strength and his tendency to get into fights. One day, while Mack is out walking, he sees a man beating a woman in the street. Mack is enraged by this sight and decides to intervene.
Mack approaches the man and grabs him by the collar, demanding that he stop hitting the woman. The man refuses and instead tries to fight back, but he is no match for Mack's strength. Mack easily overpowers the man and beats him unconscious. The woman, who is grateful for Mack's help, introduces herself as Mary Beth and thanks him for saving her.
After the incident, Mack becomes something of a hero in the town. People begin to talk about his bravery and how he stood up for what was right. However, Mack is not sure that he likes this new-found attention and begins to feel uncomfortable with all the praise.
Despite this, Mack becomes more and more popular in the town, and people start to come up to him on the street to thank him for his actions. However, Mack starts to feel like he is being watched and that people are talking about him behind his back. He becomes paranoid and begins to feel like he is being judged by everyone in the town.
In the end, Mack decides that he can't handle all the attention and decides to leave town. He packs his things and leaves, feeling relieved to be away from the scrutiny of the people in the town. The story ends with Mack driving away, leaving behind the small town and the hero status that he never really wanted in the first place.
In "In Broad Daylight," Crews explores the theme of heroism and the consequences that come with it. Mack is a hero for standing up for what is right and protecting Mary Beth from harm, but he is not comfortable with the attention and judgment that comes with this role. The story suggests that sometimes the price of being a hero can be too high, and that it is better to be true to oneself and follow one's own path, even if it means leaving behind the expectations of others.
