A Loaf Of Bread Sparknotes

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In a “ A Loaf of Bread” by James Alan McPherson, morality is the main topic discussed throughout the story. The actions of the main character Harold Green have caused a sudden outburst in the community and now they want justice. Nelson Reed, a local African American deacon and factory worker, brings Greens ethics into question. Green however is not an evil man and by no means does he feel that he has done wrong by the community. Though Green’s personality seems to be contradictory at times, he is in fact very prideful and has the potential for great change as you will see at the end of the story. Harold green is a local grocery store owner, he has 3 stores in different neighborhoods throughout the town. One of the stores is in a very poor …show more content…

In the midst of an argument with his wife about what he should do about the protestors Green says, “ I did not make the world...If not me, there would be a Greek, a Chinaman, maybe an Arab or a smart one of their own kind.” Implying that it’s not his fault things like that happen, if it was not him charging them more money then it would be someone else; the end would be inevitable. Towards the end of the quote he always says “...a smart one of their own kind.” Which is a very subtle and racist way of saying that he doesn’t think there are very many intelligent African Americans. Green also makes it sound like money isn’t of his highest priority, he does after all claim to not make much profit at all even with his increased prices. Oddly enough, for a brief moment during a conversation with his wife green asks her what the color of the picketers were, and she responds black. He then asks her what their kids’ last name were and she replied Green. He follows up by saying “There is your answer… Green is the only color I am interested in.” Another way of saying that all he really cares about is money, and not those who are being affected by his way of doing business. This is the same man who claims to be doing no wrong to his community, and who told his kids that he wasn’t a dishonest

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