"The Man Who Was Almost A Man"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and analyzes Richard Wright's book, "The Man Who was Almost a Man." It specifically discusses the book in the context of whether Dave, the main character of the story, experiences what James Joyce called 'epiphany'. It defines a Joycean epiphany and then discusses scenes and events in the story and analyzes whether or not these constitute a Joycean epiphany on the part of Dave.

From the Paper:

"This moment could have served as an epiphany but it doesn't. While the entire town may have come to understand that possessing a gun cannot make you a man, it is Dave who still remains ignorant and feels that townspeople are somehow wrong about the whole thing. Instead of understanding that these people are right, Dave goes on to do what he wants to do i.e. purchase a gun. Once he is in possession of a gun, he mistakenly shoots a mule, which causes deep sense of remorse. However when townspeople laugh at him for his foolish act, Dave takes it personally and leaves the town. The fact that he leaves the town in search of a place where he would be a man, completely satisfied with having his gun with him shows that there is no epiphany to be gained. There is no moment of sudden enlightenment for him."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "James Joyce", MSN Encarta. Accessed online 1st March 2007 from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568953/James_Joyce.html
• Richard Wright. A Man who was Almost a Man. Accessed online 1st March 2007 from http://www.barksdale.latech.edu/Engl%20308/The%20Man%20Who%20Was%20Almost%20a%20Man.doc.

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