Understanding Richard Wright's, "The Man Who Was Almost A Man"

In Richard Wright's, "The Man Who Was Almost A Man", we are introduced to Dave; a young man who is wanting to prove to everyone that he is a man.  He works hard but nobody appreciates it.  He is made fun of sometimes by friends and family, especially his mother.  Wright, carefully examines the misconception of many young men who try so hard to prove themselves to their peers and family that they can handle anything.  Too often, these young men commit foolish acts to prove their self worth.  Just as Dave did, by wanting to buy a gun because he thinks it will give him respect.  Little does he know that respect is earned through hard, honest work.  Of course, many people that we show respect to in our history books that are deemed heros, have been responsible for much brutality.  Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, and King David are some of the "heros" we respect.  As Dave manages to get the money from his mother for the gun; his immaturity quickly takes hold and cannot begin to understand that his actions do have consequences.  The gun, of course is a symbol of power to Dave.  His lack of understanding the gun's true power in the hands of someone so imature even after accidently killing the mule.  Dave is determined to control its power.  He will stop at nothing to posess it.  Acting on impulse and not understanding these consequences, Dave runs away with his gun.  He neglects his obligation to repay Mr. hawkins for the dead mule and leaves his family.  Wright leaves us the impression at the end of the story that Dave will probably make a more bad decsions that will put him in an even more dangerous situation.