Big Black Good Man

Andrew Weaver Weaver-1 "Big Black Good Man"� In the short story, "Big Black Good Man,"� written by Richard Wright, we are reminded of one of life's little lessons that can be applied to one's everyday life. Most often, it is described as, "do not judge a book by its cover."� This expression teaches the principle that one should not create bias opinions, prejudice thoughts, our premature judgments of someone merely based on their physical features. Though it may seem childish and simplistic, this short story proves that misconceptions that cause false conclusions can arise in all ages of life. The story begins by introducing an elderly man by the name of Olaf Jenson. Olaf works at a hotel that is located near some boat docks in Denmark. A majority of the customers that accompany the hotel are sailors looking for a place to sleep, a woman and some booze. The setting is important because its description helps paint a mental picture in the readers head. The fact that the hotel lies in the shores of Denmark, the reader must picture what kind of characters(tourists/sailors) may be coming in and out of the hotel. The story is told in third person narrative and continuesas Olaf boringly sits at his desk. Then suddenly an extremely large man fills the door way. He is described in the story, "his chest bulged like a barrel; his rocklike and humped shoulders hinted of mountain ridges; the stomach ballooned like a threatening stone; and his legs were like telephone poles"�(Wright 209). This giant frightened Olaf very much as he asked for a room. Stunned by this man's unusual size, Olaf neglected to answer the man's request. Finally, after gathering himself he told them that there was a room that he could stay in. The two men converse and the huge man, Jim, says that he will be staying for almost a week.

Weaver-2 Jim also made a request that Olaf hold a great deal of money of his in the hotel's safe. Olaf completed this task as the man also asked for a whore and a bottle...