There are a few parts that I found intriguing throughout this section of the book. The first can be found on page ninety-two where the author talks about the use of the word “nigger.” He sounds very innocent in this passage because he is not used to the new people and new environment. His innocence shows through when he admits that he learned the use of “nigger” is absolutely prohibited to white men. I thought he would have known this considering he lived in Connecticut as a boy.
The second thing that caught my eye was on page 109 where he discusses the white woman and black man that came to the club together. At first I thought it was odd how surprised he seemed at seeing them together and as he states, “I never exactly enjoyed the sight.” After thinking about it I realized that seeing them together could bring back memories of his mother and father because they too were of different color. That could also spark painful memories of his childhood when he realized he was mulatto due to the fact that his mother was black and father was white.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I never really thought about how the white women and black man could represent his mother and father. That is very true though. I think it could have made him think back to his childhood and the sadness he felt not growing up with a father. Another thought I had was, maybe he didn't like the sight because it was not very common. Also, maybe the only thing he knew about mixed race relationships was to be among servants and masters and acutally seeing it out in the club was a little surprising.
I never thought about the effect that his mullato status had on his view of the widow and her black male friend! That is SUCH an insight...I went back to read and I'm fascinated by the idea of the widow and black man representing his mother and father's relationship. I wonder if the violence that occurred in the widow's scence harkens back to anything that happened in his childhood? The narrator never referred to violence in his youth, but then again, he only recalls very select things about his father.
I agree with the use of the word "nigger." I was shocked that he did not realize that.
It was a good call that seeing a mixed race couple could represent his mother and his father. Perhaps this is why women are downplayed in his talking. Maybe sense he doesn't know what race he himself is so maybe he didn't know yet what kind of woman he was attracted to.
On your second thought i was suprised with the scene with the black man and the white women not expecting to see that in those days. I was also suprised about him going over to her and having a drink with her. So i guess all the scene's with the "widow"caought my attention.
I agree that both of these scenes stand out as unusual in the course of the reading. I think that the narrator's racial identity has a lot to do with his confusion. Part of him still considers himself white and he is not entirely comfortable being black. It would make sense, then, that he would be disapproving of interracial couple and not used to casual use of the word 'nigger'.
I was very intersted in what you said about the black man and white woman representing his parents. I hadn't thought of that while reading the book, but now that I think about it, it completely makes sense. It probably was something he wasn't prepared to see... after all.. his life was difficult because of his own experience with parents of different races.
I also noticed the use of the word nigger... Good observation and reflection !
Good tie in your second paragraph here... i didnt relate the fact that his parents were a couple of mixed races. Maybe his emotions did stir a bit and he neglected to write this in order to hide the pain... he didnt like the look of this it was too uncommon back than? Its funny how he so loathed a white woman who became his future wife.
Post a Comment