king hedley response paper
King Hedley
"King Hedley II" is the fourth play of Wilson's Century Cycle. Wilson's plays are linked, they're all examinations of the African-American experience in the 20th century, decade by decade ; but yet they don't form a single story when pieced together. They're all separate stories. King Hedley is an ex-con trying to scrape up the down payment on a better life. Ruby appears in the play as King Hedley’s mother, but we learn that her son has been raised by, her aunt, Louise. King is devoted to a blurred memory of his father, but we know before he does that his real father is not truly who King Hedley believes it to be. Ruby's lover, Elmore, has been her love affair on and off for decades.
She calls her eccentric neighbor Stool Pigeon, but his name is Canewell, and we learn in the play that he saves all of his newspapers in his home, creating a large threat of fire. Mister and King are also business associates, hustling the streets in order to come up with the money that they need to live from day to day. They also sell stolen refrigerators to scrape up enough to buy a video store.
I believe that this story was an astonishing reminder of the oppression that African Americans felt during the 1980s and also the experience that they had trying to survive in the terrible economic times.
"King Hedley II" is the fourth play of Wilson's Century Cycle. Wilson's plays are linked, they're all examinations of the African-American experience in the 20th century, decade by decade ; but yet they don't form a single story when pieced together. They're all separate stories. King Hedley is an ex-con trying to scrape up the down payment on a better life. Ruby appears in the play as King Hedley’s mother, but we learn that her son has been raised by, her aunt, Louise. King is devoted to a blurred memory of his father, but we know before he does that his real father is not truly who King Hedley believes it to be. Ruby's lover, Elmore, has been her love affair on and off for decades.
She calls her eccentric neighbor Stool Pigeon, but his name is Canewell, and we learn in the play that he saves all of his newspapers in his home, creating a large threat of fire. Mister and King are also business associates, hustling the streets in order to come up with the money that they need to live from day to day. They also sell stolen refrigerators to scrape up enough to buy a video store.
I believe that this story was an astonishing reminder of the oppression that African Americans felt during the 1980s and also the experience that they had trying to survive in the terrible economic times.