Black Boy
Each individual is shaped by the parental influences that surround their lives. Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy, displays the effects that social constraints and family interactions have on the individual. Family relations form the self image of Richard as he undergoes the vast struggle of understanding the nature of human interaction. It is through the complexity of human nature that Richard finds his own unique self image. Displayed through his many triumphs and tribulations during his coming of age, Richard's life struggle is focuses on overcoming the alienation of not truly understanding his environment. The focus surrounding Richard's life centers upon two struggles; the desire for a concrete physical existence and the true understanding of those around him. The lack of true understanding in family relationships leads Richard into a life of solitude as he tries to overcome the harsh elements of his environment. Violence becomes the outward expression Richard relies upon in his struggle of physical existence in a world that alienates him. From an early age Richard's family interactions were disrupted by the absence of a father figure and the constant lack of food. Both these elements are essential for the
With the struggle of social constructs Richard tries to construct his own self image. With this image he is further secluded from his family and his own race. With the lack of interactions Richard was never taught the proper responses expected of him, leading to a miscommunication of those that surround him. When faced with a beating from Uncle Tom, Richard is left to relay upon violence in his struggle to survive. In a low voice Richard says, "If you touch me, I'll cut you! Maybe I'll get cut too, but I'll cut you so help me God!" (p. 159) It is in this domestic violence that the misunderstanding of Richard by his relatives is defined. While he does not respond properly to their comments they never allow him to learn their expectations. Instead they force violence upon him and Richard's natural response is to relay upon violence to survive. With the complexity of death, Richard's lack of knowledge concerning human emotion is clearly demonstrated. Faced with bearing the news of his grandfather's death Richard does not contemplate the sensitivity that the issue holds for others. In himself there lies a lack of connection to any human relationship of proper behavior. "Every word and gesture I made seemed to provoke hostility. I had never been able to talk to others, and I had to guess at their meanings and motives." (143) The loss of family figures leads Richard to an absence of social understanding. He continues to disrupt the traditional way of life that comes so easily to those that surround him. In doing so Richard continues to be pushed farther and farther away from family connections. His family lacks a full understanding of the personal struggles that Richard continually endures. The alienation of family love leads Richard to turn to violence as a method of rectifying the misunderstanding of his image. Continually attacks from his family leads Richard to depend on violence to keep his own morals and integrity. Richard's image of himself is based upon his own judgment, as he grows and matures this images becomes stronger within himself. Solidarity has become Richard's other salvation as he continues to
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Approximate Word count = 1449
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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