A change for the Better

At the end of Section 1 is a positive change. With Wright leaving because he stole, this allows him to go north. I think that even though he did steal, he felt that if he did not, then he would be stuck in the south. He doesn't want to conform to society and subservience. I think that he would rather steal than end up in the south and just deal with the issues at hand. Also, his stealing could be perceived as being a negative thing, but as long as he is sticking to his beliefs then I think it is more of a positive change than a negative change for him. There is also the idea of what we would do in the same situation, and I probably would steal to get out of the south too. Let's also not forget the remorse he felt on the trip up north. Overall stealing money to go up north is not as bad as it seems for Wright.
Another good change for Wright is when he moves up north with his mother and Aunt Maggie. At first I got the feeling like he was running away from the south. Later on, I realized that yes he was running, but he couldn't change the south, so he got out. If he would have stayed in the south, then it is possible that he could have been killed. So why not go north? I would have gone too. This was also a chance for a fresh start, and this is what he always wanted. So overall the changes at the end of Section I were positive for Wright.