Preview

Isolation In Richard Wright's Black Boy

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
747 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Isolation In Richard Wright's Black Boy
In Richard Wright's book, "Black Boy," the main character who also narrates the story is Richard himself since the book is written from his point of view; we find out a lot about how Richard feels and get detailed accounts of how he reacts to the things that happen to him. Even though Richard tries hard to relate to all groups of people around him, he cannot because he is so different, so much more independent and strong willed than the masses around him, these and other forms of isolation help shape Richard Wright’s character throughout the novel.
In Richard's neighborhood when he lives with his grandma, the thing that separates him most from everyone else is religion. Richard decided he is an atheist at a very young age, which also demonstrates his ability to think independently, even under pressure. He is persistent and stands by his view, because he cannot relate to the one imposed on him. He says, "Perhaps if I …show more content…
He is so different from the other blacks; willing to question racism, independent, not wanting to be treated like everyone else and with a deep, unique understanding that racism is wrong. He also voices his concerns more than the other blacks, so he has to bear a lot of violence and putdowns throughout his life. He has a conversation about this with Griggs, an old schoolmate: "Do you want to get killed? ... don’t anybody act a damn bit like it." (pg 183) and then contemplates this idea: "It was simply ... my way with everybody." (pg 185) This is the most important isolation in the book because even though it applies to all blacks it applies to Richard even more because he is different from the whites as well as the blacks. This makes him not part of either community; he cannot understand the way black people act like whites are superior and he cannot understand the way white people act like blacks are inferior. Richard is again isolated from everyone around
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The Struggle In Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Struggle In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    One afternoon his mother gave him money to purchase groceries from the market at the corner of the street. A gang of boys spotted Ricard with money in his hand. They saw him as an easy target and repeatedly beat him, stealing his money. Despite this, his mother would not allow Richard to set foot in the house until he had the groceries. She just gave him more money and sent him off again to buy groceries for the family. Richard, fearful that the boys will injure him, grabs a wooden stick as a weapon for self defense. The boys hastily confront Richard only to be brutally beaten by his wooden stick. For the first time in his life, Richard is prideful and joyful of such an accomplishment. However, he is fearful that he will be beaten in the future, causing Richard to act differently around his peers and engage in violence. This fear affects Richard because he is not acting like himself around others. He is constantly worrying about survival, not quality of life. Next, Richard chooses not to eat breakfast with his employer. This puts Richard in an uncomfortable situation that he chooses not to engage in. He does not want to eat with the white employer because he is fearful that something terribly wrong will happen. Also, Richard feels as if he will be put into a trap and forced to say something unruly and hurtful. It is intelligent of Richard to to disengage from such situation. This is especially true because he does not repeatedly act white. Richard is chastised by his employers for acting in such way. For example “You think you’re white, don’t you? ... No, sir. You’re acting mighty like it” (188). This clearly shows that the opinions and actions of the south deeply affect Richard’s behavior. Richard’s confusion leads him to be fearful because he does not yet know where he fits in with society. Due to this fear, he is extremely cautious in the way…

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Theme Of Freedom Vs. Confinement In Richard Wright's 'Black Boy'
    • 1388 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Theme Of Freedom Vs. Confinement In Richard Wright's 'Black Boy'

    Freedom, the sole purpose that many people come to america. Freedom and the “American dream” is a desire for many, and sadly almost 14.5% of americans live below or right on the line of poverty, and that unfortunately proves that the american dream is not reachable for all. In a memoir written by Richard Wright, Black Boy (American Hunger) gruesomely discusses the harsh events a young child goes through while living in a household of poverty and is plagued by many unfortunate situations.The idea of freedom versus confinement is shown through diction in a constant wave through different events and challenges that the main character goes through.…

    • 1388 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Unnecessary Pain In Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Unnecessary Pain In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    . . the meaningless pain and the endless suffering” (130). The scale of racism in Richard's life is far greater than religion for evident reasons. Clearly, he is frustrated for being punished for something so superficial, such as skin color, and subsequently gains insight into the suffering of others because of his newfound spirit to understand the status of his life (131). He directs his loyalties to the side of men in rebellion—the side of men struggling to wring a meaning out of meaningless suffering-- to try to come to terms with the meaning of living in a world full of racism…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Turning Point In Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Turning Point In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    He may have reached the north, but poverty was still on his tail. He looked for job interviews, and with dedication, he was hired at the postal office. As if poverty had not had enough, the Great Depression affected the whole country, and ultimately the postal service ran out of business. An illness swept through Richards family, which only brought more hardship to Richard. He had to work in shady businesses to earn money for his family, but then again, it went out of business. Wandering around, he met a group of communists introduced by a friend, and they let Richard write what he wanted to write for their group, John Reed Club, and Richard resisted to join but joined anyway. He met weird people, very different and very simple-minded people. It was as if Richard was a genius and all the others were normal. After leaving the group, he grew up some more.…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Analysis Of Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 114 Words
    • 1 Page

    An Analysis Of Richard Wright's Black Boy

    Imagine the feeling of living in a Jim Crow south after the Civil War. In Richard Wright’s autobiography “Black Boy”, he illustrates his life as he tries to understand the segregated and white dictated world he lives in. Throughout the story he asks questions to others and himself to attempt at understanding the world. Since the book is an autobiography it allows the reader to take a front row seat with the story. “Black Boy” is one of the many books that were challenged for a myriad of reasons. Those reasons ranging from political to religious. Although the book was accused for multiple offenses some teachers and students think the book still holds value.…

    • 114 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Literary Career In Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Literary Career In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    The beginning of Mathabane’s literary career sparked a hunger when he came across a book titled “Black Boy, Richard Wright’s searing autobiography” in the Quincy College library. (Mathabane 3-78) This led him to read just about all the books written by black authors. In turn, this spark stood dimly lit until he arrived at Dowling College. He “volunteered to become the first black editor of the college newspaper, The Lion’s Voice.” (Mathabane 3-103)He started out alone, writing the whole paper himself though he had people help with the printing. Eventually a couple of students joined with him in writing the paper. Still toiling with what he wanted to do after graduation, he came upon a man named John Rather, who suggested attending the newspaper recruitment fair in…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Suffering In Life Exposed In Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 222 Words
    • 1 Page

    Suffering In Life Exposed In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    “Then for God’s sake, learn how to live in the South” (pg 183). This shows that Richard struggled to live in the South as an African American in the early 1900’s.…

    • 222 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Alienation in "Black Boy"
    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Alienation in "Black Boy"

    The first signs of alienation come as a result of Richard’s curiosity with the world around him. An insatiable sense of curiosity grew in him after learning to read, write, and count to one hundred that he soon became, “a nuisance by asking far too many questions of everybody.” This led him to learn about the relations between whites and blacks. After finding out about the white man beating the black boy he began to ask questions regarding race and why there is a puzzling coexistence between whites and blacks. He asked his mother why that happened and she simply responded by saying, “You’re too young young to understand.” She did this to dodge this controversial topic. He had so many questions regarding this topic and no one in his community was willing to give him a straight, if any, answer. On another occasion, Richard asked his mother if they could look in the white side of the train and noticed his mother becoming irritated. “I had begun to notice that my mother became irritated when I questioned her about whites and blacks, and I could not…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Richard Wright's Autobiography "Black Boy": Analyzing Literary Techniques
    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Richard Wright's Autobiography "Black Boy": Analyzing Literary Techniques

    tom riddle Ms. sterm English 12H-Period 5 13 December 2012 Black boy “Analyzing Literary Techniques” Paragraph…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Black Boy Analysis
    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Black Boy Analysis

    Black Boy From the early days of Richard’s childhood, Richard was always alienated from his environment. Even though he tried to distance himself from the prejudice all around him, the white people still tried to turn him into the stereotypical southern black person. However, throughout the story Richard is also alienated by his own people and perhaps even more then from the white people.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Book Report On Blackboy By Richard Wright
    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Book Report On Blackboy By Richard Wright

    Blackboy written by richard wright talks about his challenges growing up in the state of poverty. Richard had grown up in the Woods of Mississippi and poverty. Richard father had left his mom so his mom didn't had enough money to buy food for her children by herself. Richard mom had had a found a job. So she gave richard some money. So, he went to the store by the time he made it to the corner he had got the money stolen by these kids. Throughout, Blackboy we learn that you have to fight to get over challenges.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Richard Wright's Early Life
    • 1182 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Richard Wright's Early Life

    When Richard Wright was five years old, his dad, Nathan Wright, left the family to live with another woman(Wright). He explains in his autobiography, Black Boy, he grew bitter feelings for his father after he left because the Wrights fell into poverty without Nathan's financial support. This forced his mother, brother, and himself to go live with family relatives. Later on his mother suffered a stroke severely incapacitating Ella, resulting in Richard Wright's grandmother bringing in the family. Wright had an obsession with books and lacked an interest in religion. This caused a conflict with his grandmother because she "had an incredibly strict religious regimen"(Padgett). She attempted to reform him and forced him to attend a religious school. When Wright started to work as an adult in Jackson, he experiences the reality of racism towards blacks. In Black Boy, Wright is" run off by two men because they believe such skilled work is not meant for blacks"(Wright). He demonstrates to the reader the reality of life for blacks in the south. They dealt with racism and couldn't count on others to stand up for them. When the two white men ran him off of his job, the white northerner who hired him did nothing to stop it. Wright recognized whites didn't care for blacks. They didn't view blacks as equals, they looked at them as less…

    • 1182 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Literary Analysis of Richard Wright's Black Boy
    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Literary Analysis of Richard Wright's Black Boy

    Richard Wright is very much both a product of the times, as well as his upbringing and attitude. It is very often said that a child’s personality is mostly determined by the age of four. Nothing is more true with Richard Wright. The resounding impact his father and mother have on him can be seen throughout the whole book. In many ways, his mother and father act as antitheses of each other: one acting as the moral figure, teaching Richard morality, and the strength to hold onto it, while the other acts as a figure of repression, the force which Richard will rebel against for his whole life. This relationship is established most strongly by Richard’s killing of the cat as a…

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Black Boy: The Theme of Richard Wright's "Black Boy" is racism...
    • 737 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Black Boy: The Theme of Richard Wright's "Black Boy" is racism...

    The theme of Richard Wright's "Black Boy" is racism because he became a black boy for the sole purpose of survival, to make enough money, stop the hunger pains, and to eventually move to the North where he could be himself. Wright grew up in the deep dirty South; the Jim Crow South of the early twentieth century. From an early age Richard Wright was aware of two races, the black and the white. Yet he never understood the relations between the two races. The fact that he didn't understand but was always trying to got him into trouble many times. When in Memphis, Wright reluctantly assumed the role society dictated for him, the role of a black boy.…

    • 737 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary: "Library Card" by Richard Wright.
    • 215 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary: "Library Card" by Richard Wright.

    Richard Wright would go into this one library and out of the everyone in society there was one kind man; Mr. Falk who tries to help Richard Wright to check out a book and read. However, people like Mr. Gerald who heavily put the burdens of being black on Richard Wright at his apartment. Due to these red necks the separation of whites and blacks caused the distrust and forge that made it hard for Richard Wright to have the right to read.…

    • 215 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics