Charles W. Chesnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition uses the motif of doubles to emphasize the differing views society has on characters of different races, despite their similarities in other aspects of lifestyle.
One instance where Chesnutt juxtaposes two characters is during the events leading up to the operation on Dodie, the son of Olivia and Major Carteret. Dr. Miller and Dr. Burns are both doctors of high degrees and equal experience. Doctors were highly respected in society due to their knowledge and ability to save lives. However, they were judged on more than just their ability and skill during this time period. Racism is the primary aspect that separates Dr. Burns and Dr. Miller as counterparts. Dr. Burns was a white man, which already
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The issue of race is displayed when Carteret declares that in the South, people “‘do not call negro doctors [Miller] to attend white patients’” (Chesnutt 46). Although Burns disagrees with this mindset, he is permitted to lead the operation on Dodie, most likely because Carteret encourages the superiority of the white race. If Dr. Miller had been a white man with the same abilities, Major Carteret would have certainly allowed him to assist in the operation since he wants the best for his son. However, his prejudices against African Americans blurred his judgment, leading him to only choose Burns for the surgery.
Similarly, Janet Miller and Olivia Carteret can be viewed as doubles because they also embody the differences in society based on race. Sam Merkel married Olivia’s mother until she died. He then married his slave, Julia, which resulted in Janet being born. This makes Olivia and Janet half-sisters, but Olivia does not have any respect for Janet Miller. Even though they both happen to have wealth and respective jobs, Olivia happens to be more respected than
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Miller, two strong believers in changes for the current society of Wellington. However, their views differ drastically, with Carteret pushing for a town based on white supremacy and Miller wanting more equal rights between the white and black populations. While Carteret and Miller are both leaders looking for change, the amount of support they receive varies. Carteret’s newspaper, the Morning Chronicle, is described as being “the most influential paper in the State” (1). Knowing this, he uses it to spread his ideology of white supremacy to his readers. The whites of Wellington became excited about a chance to take action against the black population, so when the time came, the riot was supported by nearly every white man in town. On the other hand, Miller is hesitant to openly lead the movement for equality among races. While the riot is occurring, Miller encounters a group of black men who ask for his leadership. Although Miller’s instinct tells him to “take up the cause of these leaderless people, and... to defend their lives and their rights,” he refuses, saying that their mission is a hopeless one since he knows that their resistance will not gain enough support. (183). Evidently, Carteret’s movement of white supremacy is supported by the whites since they feel the blacks are their subordinates. The black citizens, including Miller, however, are fearful to take action for their own equality because they worry that
Cultural diversity is an important element. Often times we acknowledge cultural diversity but we don’t quite understand it simply because we do not live it. With this novel, readers can understand cultural
In “The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich the two main characters Lyman and Henry are brothers that have an amazing relationship with one another. In the beginning of the story Erdrich writes about how Lyman and Henry bought a gorgeous red convertible; and together they went on plenty of road trips and bonded over the car. On the other hand, the two siblings in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” don’t have that same sibling bond. The siblings in “Everyday Use”, Maggie and Dee, are complete opposites. Dee is extremely vain, snobbish, and outspoken while Maggie is coy, insecure, and timid. Although Maggie and Dee aren’t as close as Lyman and Henry, they still have a very complex relationship in terms of being “close” to one another even though it seems as if they’re from two different planets. In the stories “Everyday Use” and “The Red Convertible”, the characters share one particular trait which is
In 1845, Ebenezer Carter Tracy published a book titled, Memoir of the Life of Jeremiah Evarts. Within this book is a statement from the Cherokee people from 1830 called, “Appeal of the Cherokee Nation.” In this statement, The Cherokee Indians refuse to move west of the Mississippi River. They made this refusal for two main reasons. The Indians believed that they had a right to remain in the lands of their ancestors and they also insisted that their chances of survival would be very low if they moved west. Their survivability would be impacted by their lack of knowledge of the new lands, and by the Indians that were already living in the western lands, and who would view the Cherokee as enemies.
In “Seeing Beyond Our Differences “by Sheri White, the author writes about how people are different in their appearances, race, and religion. After all, everyone is human and almost identical. The author points out how her mother is from India with a dark skin color and her father is from Indiana with a light skin color. Her parents still able to get married and there is no obstacle in their marriage. As a daughter, the author has never noticed that her parents are different in their skin colors and races. They both are the same as human to her. The author’s main idea is to let people know that no matter what race they are, what religion they follow, or how they look, they all are human. Deep down inside them, in their DNA, they all are 99.9 percent the same and almost identical. In this article, the author uses expressive purpose and descriptive pattern to express her main idea.
Have you ever thought someone was flawed because they’re part of a certain religion, gender, or personal aspect, such as hair color, and they turned out to be the opposite? When this occurs, it is called local color or stereotyping. In The outcasts of Poker Flat, Harte uses local color to educate his readers what can result when we judge others by their cover and manifests that the outward appearance of someone’s circumstances are not always what they seem.
Two people with two completely different characteristics have something alike. Both Dally and Johnny are mentally tough because of their parents. Johnny and Dally’s parents both do not care for them and could care less about them. For example, during Dally’s childhood he went to jail, been in a gang, and has been in many fights and his dad still would not care for him even if he won the lottery. Dally also talks about his dad's disgrace towards him in the car with Johnny and Ponyboy, “‘ Shoot, my dad don’t give a hang whether I’m in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in a gutter...’”(88). Dally could easily live without his dad and he does for the most part. Dally just hangs around with his friends and stays at their place. Similarly, Johnny's parents use him like a rag doll to blow off steam, “his father always beating him up”(14). The gang knows what happenes in Johnny’s house. Once Ponyboy was witnessing, “Johnny take a whipping with a two-by-four from his old man”(33). Ponyboy talks about how loud and mean Johnny's mom is and,“you can...
Despite all bad or good qualities anyone truly has, one should always try to fight for what’s right and not punish someone who truly doesn’t deserve it just to save themselves. This is evident between Walter Cunningham Sr. and Bob Ewell. Walter Cunningham Sr. is a poor farmer who has to pay those who he owes with supplies rather than money. He also happens to be in a mob, which is trying to kill Tom Robinson [the innocent black man] before his trial. Bob Ewell is part of Maycomb’s poorest family and is also a drunkard. Something both Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Ewell have in common is that they are both white men, who are not the wealthiest and are both trying to put Mr. Robinson in jail. Despite the similarities these characters may seem to have, there are a lot differe...
In this analysis includes a summary of the characters and the issues they are dealing with, as well as concepts that are seen that we have discussed in class. Such as stereotyping and the lack of discrimination and prejudice, then finally I suggest a few actions that can be taken to help solve the issues at hand, allowing the involved parties to explain their positions and give them a few immersion opportunities to experience their individual cultures.
I was very intrigued to hear about a book that was once again positively depicting a black man. It allowed me to think about how media and society has motioned us to not think of black men as CEO’s, doctors, and lawyers when we first hear of them. Dr. Tweedy’s memoir on how he has experienced racial issues, and finds health problems in the black community is very uplifting to know he wanted to pursue what was occurring. Though he was not from the south, he mentioned unequal practices that did occur in the south. Dr. Tweedy noticed many discreptencies within the black community economically, socially, and culturally. Dr. Tweedy endured a lot of discrimination during his process of becoming a physician, and of course after his process. As I previously stated, this notion is from this disgusting negative connation mostly white people receive from black men. Dr. Tweedy hope to work in an area where he would not have to endure racial tension; however, his future though otherwise and he was exposed to a harsh experience of institutionalized racism first hand. It was an fortunate and unfortunate case that race influenced Dr. Tweedy relationship with patients. It was an advantage because it opened his eyes to the discreptencies with black Americans in healthcare, and it was a disadvantage that he sustained racial incidents to bring this situation to the light. Dr. Tweedy well
Even though they are brother and sister and grew up together, they are two people with
One thing they both have in common is hustling people for money in pool games. This is one of their main hobbies and happens a lot throughout the course of the story. Since neither are able to get and keep a job, this is how they provide money for their family.
Ruth Benedict’s anthropological book, Patterns of Culture explores the dualism of culture and personality. Benedict studies different cultures such as the Zuni tribe and the Dobu Indians. Each culture she finds is so different and distinctive in relation to the norm of our society. Each difference is what makes it unique. Benedict compares the likenesses of culture and individuality, “A culture, like an individual, is a more or less consistent pattern of thought or action” (46), but note, they are not the same by use of the word, “like.” Benedict is saying that figuratively, cultures are like personalities. Culture and individuality are intertwined and dependent upon each other for survival.
Sum up, the social relationship between these people here, this old town Maycomb is complicated and pretty tense. This novel has taught us so much, thanks to Harper Lee – one of the greatest writers of all time. It has opened our eyes wider about racism at that time and compared it to nowadays it has become so much better. People are equally, no matter what skin color you are, what religion you have, or where you’re from, what you’re appearance looks like, we are all equal, and we are all the same – human. So instead of treating badly to one another we should all united and make the world a better place.
Directing my discussion to the excerpt involving Friday, again the double standard was evident, though it was realized in a different variation. Here Crusoe the issue of slavery was still present, but also the discourse on the appearance of Friday. He was quite vociferous in remarking upon Friday's countenance and how that countenance matched or varied with the appearance of other ethnic groups. I found this to be much in keeping with the precedent set by the writings of the first explorers from Columbus onward. These men would make descriptions of the people they encountered on their journeys and made comparisons with everything from beasts to animals to mythical beings.
These issues are also raised in "Death and the King's Horseman", but more with showing how important and determinant our culture is for our personal identity. Thus, living in an era where this one is changing, because of the rough imposition of a new one, can torn one's personality, making them doubt all of their beliefs.