Richard hungers many things through out the novel Black Boy, including a decent education, and the things that follow. For the most part, Richard has participated and achieved in his school, he was even named valedictorian of his class. However, he not only craved knowledge from school, he was also intrigued by writing. When his mother read him Bluebeard he was so over come by the story that all he wanted was to read and to become a writer from then on.
But knowledge wasn’t all Richard hungered; he also wanted to gain acceptance and inclusion from his family and his piers. One day Richard thinks about his life and broods over his seclusion, he says, " Passing relatives in the hallways of the crowded home and not speaking. Eating in silence at a table where prayers are said" (Wright 161) The fact that Richard is actually agnologing and describing his loneliness tell the reader that he has perhaps come to terms with it, but that also makes me think he wants acceptance more than ever.
One final thing Richard hungers in the literal answer, food. Richard father was the primary provider for Richard and the rest of his family and since his father has left the whole family has grown into a repetitive state of physical hunger. It isn’t long before Richard connects this hunger with his father's absence, he thinks to himself, "... it had never occurred to me that his absence would mean that there would be no food" (Wright 15). After a while Richard and his family break apart because they don’t have enough money to support them all and Richard has to get jobs to pay for his own food.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I agree with you on what your saying. I think the question is asking what does Richard figurativley hunger for but I also don't think that the fact the he hungers for food should be overlooked. I think that Richards constant hunger for food affects his life significantly like how you said his family breaks apart because they can't provide for everyone. Nice job!
Nice job Norah. You chose strong points and backed them up with sufficient evidence.
I like the part where you mention that Richard associates his hunger with the absence of his father. Although Richard eventually forgives his dad, he probably felt much resentment during his childhood due to his never-ending hunger.
Just a few spelling and grammar mistakes here and there but nevertheless, great work.
Nora Nora nice post! I agree with you when Richard craves knowledge and acceptance. The quote about Richard being excluded from his family was a really strong example. I think it's very thoughtful how you said Richard is acknowledging his loneliness and how that shows just how much he longs for company and acceptance more. Just a note, I think Ella read Richard Bluebeard, not his mother. But I knew what you meant. And I'm very impressed with your word choice of "broods". Top notch vocabulary :) -A
Hey Nora! (Is this the Nora from 6th hour spanish??) I love how you supported your idea that Richard craves for knowledge. Great example for using the fact that he was made valedictorian of his class. And then, further on, you mentioned a more literal hunger he has....a hunger for food. That also had excellent support too.
Overall, Es muy Fantastico!
(hehe cross curricular)
Nora-
I really like your ideas and i agree with them for the most part. I also believe Richard had a craving for education and described it in my own blog, similarly to how you did. But i did not really see where you talked about the effects of his hungers. Never the less, you backed your ideas up very well and i enjoyed reading it.
Nora,
I liked you said that not only did Richard experience the very literal hunger for food, but also the emotional hunger for both family stability, and knowledge. I feel that your example from the text about family stability was really strong. One thing that I didn't find in your post was the effects of Richard's hunger, but otherwise nice post.
P.S. Ella read Richard Bluebeard.
Post a Comment