Raney - Who Knows True Happiness
In Raney, a novel by Clyde Edgerton, a conflict between two cultures is recounted to the reader. Raney, a young white girl, represents a traditional, non-college educated, Protestant from the deep south. Charles, a young white man, embodies the intelligent, cultured, and refined character of an educated, rich southern city dweller. Raney and Charles, the main characters in the book, constantly demonstrate their different backgrounds. They question each other's positions on the issues, morals, family life, and friendships on a regular basis. This dissimilarity between their beliefs is clearly shown during an argument about the dismissal of the Pastor of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church over his committing adultery. Charles supports his belief that the pastor should have been given a chance for forgiveness by saying, "It's possible that Jesus would have forgiven him. After all, he forgave a prostitute."(Edgerton 43) Raney, after a lifetime of Bible study, does not recall that passage whatsoever, and saw no recourse but to dismiss the Pastor.(43) Each appears perplexed by the other's ability to live and be happy while confined to his or her respective culture. For instance, Raney believes that Charl
It is a difficult task to prove that a person has found true happiness. At first glance, it does seem that Charles should be happier. He comes from a high-class family, has a better education, and he is a better communicator. However, he does not respect Raney or her family. He swears and brings alcohol into the house despite his full knowledge that those two vices are highly offensive to Raney. Raney says it plain and simple for Charles, "I'd rather not have wine in this house."(Edgerton 65) He refuses to understand that Raney's family would like to visit them on a regular basis, saying, "Raney, I think you ought to tell your mama and Aunt Naomi and Aunt Flossie to stay out of our house unless somebody's home."(Edgerton 27) Raney has worked hard to keep her beliefs and hold them true to her heart. Further evidence that this effort supplements the path to happiness is given by Shakespeare in Othello. He says, "Whether 'tis better in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them..." He means that it is necessary for a person to suffer and put up opposition to attain happiness. Raney has stood her ground, in spite of Charles' attempts to change her, and maintained her purity. Raney does not have a higher-level education, and has not learned about all of the scientific actualities of the world as Charles has. This lack of knowledge combined with her efforts to follow what she believes to be morally right indicate that Raney has found happiness. Charles, on the other hand, seems to still be searching for a deeper answer. Raney is content with her simple explanations and conservative Baptist culture. Ignorance is bliss in this case, proving that Raney is happy in the confines of her own world. Raney has led a life sheltered from reality. Her interests involve singing, church, and her family. She does not know about many of the real problems facing the world. Her biggest It may seem from a surface glace at Raney that Charles is the happier one of the two. He comes from an upper-class family, has a higher level of education, is more cultured, and knows how to be aggressive. Raney lets the reader know the last fa
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Approximate Word count = 1505
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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