The Eighteenth Emergency
The Eighteenth EmergencyThe Eighteenth Emergency
A common feature throughout the novel “The Eighteenth Emergency” is Benjie suffering from nerves and anxiety over Marv after writing an unpleasant note: “His shoes seemed to stick to the sidewalk, and his legs were heavy”. He suffers also from an internal conflict after. He constantly contemplates what he should do- whether he should face his foe (Marv Hammerman) or continue running away from him whenever he sees him. Benjie gets very scared and panics about what will happen depending on the course of action he takes.
Benjie is an easily intimidated boy who is convinced he is weak. Because of the comment he made about Marv, Marv has the perfect opportunity to scare Benjie. The effects of Marv’s intimidation towards Benjie begin to show soon after Benjie starts running from Marv: “Mouse tried again to concentrate, but he couldn’t. The thought of Marv Hammerman filled his mind completely”. We can tell at this stage that Benjie is really regretting ever having written the note because he know he is going to suffer the consequences. Even though Marv has not yet threatened Benjie, Benjie is still scared. This is because he realises that he has done wrong, and Marv is going to make him pay. The thing that scares Benjie the most is when he is going to be hurt. The reason this scares Benjie is that the suspense is really building up while he waits for Marv to strike. He continues to ponder over his conscience- should he speak to Marv or not. He keeps on worrying about what course of action he should take. This is perfectly reasonable.
Benjie knows that even if he does eventually decide to fight, he is not going to be able to win it.
Often for fun, Benjie and his friend, Ezzie, would practise the seventeen emergencies and what they would do if they ever came across a crocodile, a bull, etc. All, of course, very rare emergencies. Never have they practised an eighteenth emergency, a very real emergency- being pursued by a bully. Now, Benjie has to face this emergency and decide by himself what will be the solution to this conflict- will he face up to Marv, or will he keep running.
Inevitably, he sets out looking for Marv and he becomes very stressed when he can not find him because the tension is becoming too much: “He thought he would no longer be able to bear the tension if Hammerman did not appear soon”.
Eventually, Marv does show up and hits Benjie repeatedly. Once Marv has finished, and Benjie has not even scratched him, Marv lifts his hands in a peaceful gesture , showing Benjie that honour is restored. Then, Marv and Benjie both walk away- their altercation ended.
Because of the fight, Marv’s honour was restored and he had gained respect from Benjie. His friend then respected Benjie, who had always been called Mouse due to his timidity. Another outcome of this fight was that Benjie gained more self-confidence and self-esteem- he no longer believed himself to be weak because he had managed to stand up to the strongest boy in the school.
After the fight, Benjie’s internal and external conflict was over.