Race in Faulkner & Wright

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses racism and oppression, using two literary works by Richard Wright and William Faulkner. The writer shows that Dave's longing for a gun pervades Richard Wright's short story "The Man Who was Almost a Man." The writer points out that in this intense and tense coming-of-age story, Wright employs rich symbolism, most notably the emblem of a gun as a representation of the phallic power of manhood as well as the social power manhood entails. The writer notes that William Faulkner also demonstrates sensitivity to issues of class, race, and sexuality in his short story "That Evening Sun Go Down". Further, the writer maintains that although Faulkner wrote as a white man in the South, his story reveals chilling social and economic realities just as Wright's does.

From the Paper:

"Both Wright and Faulkner imply that machismo serves a destructive purpose in society. In Faulkner's story, however, the direct consequences of sexism are more apparent because Nancy, an African-American servant girl, is a key character in the story. Her husband Jubah remains faceless, and serves more as a symbol of evil than an actual character. Fear of Jubah becomes not only Nancy's fear but young Quentin's too. Quentin's love of Nancy brings out his subsequent awareness of male-female relations as well as white-black relations in Southern culture."
"Jubah's African-American heritage is, however, relevant to the story and to Faulkner's central message of social control and oppression. The fact that he is black in no way detracts from Faulkner's message about racism and social control. For example, Faulkner hints that Nancy may have been raped by a white man; her skin color renders her subhuman in the eyes of many white southerners."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Faulkner, William. "That Evening Sun Go Down." Retrieved Aug 1, 2006 from http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/White/anthology/faulkner.html
• Wright, Richard. "The Man Who Was Almost A Man." Retrieved Aug 1, 2006 from http://xroads.virginia.edu/~DRBR2/wright.htm

More papers on Race in Faulkner & Wright:

• Analytical Essay # 32077 : "Women in Faulkner"
• Analytical Essay # 144599 : "Sport Rituals of Hunting in Faulkner's "The Bear"
• Analytical Essay # 138892 : "Themes in Faulkner's and Oates' Works"

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