How do you judge what they did?: In chapter 4 and the next, the boys steal food because they are starving. We usually consider this "acceptable" theft, but the boys stole from other people who didn't have much food either.

In Chapter Four, the villagers will not sell food to the boys, but it is available. The villagers are hoarding their food in anticipation of trouble. Stealing is wring under any circumstances, but in this case I lay the blame on the villagers. To withhold available food and keep it from starving boys, particularly starving boys who are willing to pay is a travesty.