The Man Who Was Almost A Man
Richard Wright
Disheartened is the word that I would use to describe my feelings after reading this story. Searching for respect and some sense of authority, Dave is rejected of both throughout the story’s plot. In some cases, it was almost hard for me to read this story and watch Dave fail time after time again. Begging his mother for money, getting poked fun at by the entire town, and running away on the train, Dave appears to be a boy desperately trying to grow into his 17 year old body. In his effort to reach manhood, Dave depicts his insecurities, his confused self, and his immaturity. Dave counteracts all of the actions he believes will develop him into a man further proving his overall adolescent being. Through his character however, Dave illustrates the underlying theme of the pathway to manhood.
Power, respect, and manhood were the aspects that Dave believed having a gun would provide. Purchasing the gun did in fact provide Dave with the physical gun, however the power, respect, and development into manhood Dave believed the gun would provide were nowhere to be found. “In the gray light of dawn he held, it loosely, feeling a sense of power. Could kill a man with a gun like this.” Through this excerpt from the story, we are able to see Dave’s immaturity. While yes, a gun can kill a man, Dave does not understand that having a gun makes him no more powerful or no more of a man. For one, Dave admits himself that he does not know how to shot a gun and when he decides to shot the gun, he has to turn his head and close his eyes. Knocking him over and throwing him onto the ground, the first shot Dave fires further illustrates Dave’s immaturity. While emotionally Dave is not mature enough to look at his target, physically Dave does not have the strength to hold his ground when he fires the gun.
Dave’s emotional immaturity is also highlighted in the scene where Dave turns back in the direction of his home wanting to get help for Jenny, but not having the courage to do so. While his instincts are leading him to be a man, he instead acts as a child and doesn’t ask for help. Just as Dave is afraid to ask for help, Dave is also afraid to tell Jim Hawkins that he has shot his mule. Rather than acting maturely and baring his own responsibilities for his actions, Dave lies to Jim in order to hide the accident. Dave acts as a young boy rather than the man he is trying to become. Dave lies to Jim about Jenny and also lies to his mother about the purchase of the gun. Instead of showing the gun to his mother or to his friends, Dave hides the gun and shows no one. Even though he so strongly seeks respect, a respect he believes will come with his gun, Dave hides the gun telling of his own insecurities.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed how the author seemed to provide the adolescent path, the path that Dave consistently chooses, along with the more mature and more “grownup” path. Each time Dave is presented with a dilemma and is forced to make a decision, the author hints at both adolescence as well as manhood. As readers, this made it easier to understand the struggle Dave had with the path to manhood. It also made it very clear that Dave was just a boy trying, and failing, to reach manhood. Running away on the train confirms Dave’s inability to take responsibility for his actions. Ending the story with Dave’s fleeing completes Wright’s creation of the adolescent and immature character of Dave.
David Belpedio
David,
ReplyDeleteI like what you had to say about this short story, and I agree with the points you made. It seems like Dave was experiencing what every 17 year old boy experiences: the yearning to be a man, to no longer be looked down upon as a child, and to be respected. It's unfortunate though that Dave feels like that only way he can become a man is to buy a gun. The gun didn't make Dave a man. He was still a boy, but with possession of a weapon that he had no knowledge about as to how to use.
-Robert
I really gravitated to your line, "Dave appears to be a boy desperately trying to grow into his 17 year old body." This is so evident throughout the story. He lacks a certain maturity that being a man requires, and he seems to act as a 12yr. old the entire story. It's interesting that you wrote your line this way because it seems is if he is trying to catch his mental self up with his physical self (age wise). He goes through the wrong manner to gain his maturation and manhood, because he is confused as to what manhood is. Being a man definitely isn't having power and, to an extent, not having respect either. In contrast, being a man is taking responsibility for one's actions and doing what's right. He jeopardizes both of these in order to gain power. It's a shame to see him spiral towards failure, when he is so close to achieving his goal of manhood.
ReplyDelete-Clay York
Through Dave’s character, Wright touches on an important subject. As David points out, Dave is in possession of the gun, a manly item, but his actions indicate quite the opposite of an understanding of manhood. It’s interesting to me how often it comes up in my day-to-day life that without actions that support your moral claims, it’s an illegitimate claim. I discuss this in religion class, in leadership seminars, interviews, and simply talking with my friends. It’s interesting to me that this is such a prevalent lesson in day-to-day life. We must support our beliefs with action, or they are not beliefs at all.
ReplyDeleteExcellent insight into the mind of a young boy trying to become a man. Disheartening is the perfect way to describe this story. It was so unfortunate to see Dave progress through the situation that he created for himself so poorly. Dave desperately tries to prove that he is a man, but the way that he does so proves just how much of a boy he really is.
ReplyDelete