“The middle class was invented to give the poor hope; the poor, to make the rich feel special; the rich, to humble the middle class,” said Mokokoma Mokhonoana, a South African author and social critic. Mokhonoana points out that individuals define themselves based on the identities of others, which The Color of Water by James McBride and Hamlet by William Shakespeare address. McBride’s memoir delves into the early life experiences of James’ Jewish mother, Ruth McBride, as she faces the internal and external struggles of being an immigrant in America and the financial struggle created by her low socioeconomic status. At the same time, he narrates his struggles as he grows up impoverished and desperate for money. In a subtle but similar way, …show more content…
An example of this is “Later that day I was standing on the street with a group of black students and one of them said, ‘Forget these whiteys. They’re all very rich. They got no problems,’” (McBride, p. 187) This quote shows that the black students believed the aristocracy did not struggle. They imply that the proletariat has several issues, essentially victimizing themselves. Additionally, they feel an abundance of wealth and power fixes every issue. Stereotypes about the aristocracy that black students were exposed to formed these ideas. Another instance of this is when Polonius says, “But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips / As are companions noted and most known/ To youth and liberty.” (Shakespeare II.1 24-26) In this instance, Shakespeare characterizes Polonius as a strict parent because he sends his servant to monitor his son. Moreover, in Polonius’s conversation with his servant, he believes that the average young man may have some “slips” or mistakes in their character because they are young and free. He believes in the stereotype that the youth in the lower classes are prone to “slipping.” Bias, from his social class, formed this belief. These preconceptions spread and form societal stereotypes that influence individuals’ behavior and
events of your entire life. In the memoir, The Color of Water by James McBride, the audience is told about a young mixed boy who grew up in a very segregated time period. The setting was Suffolk, Virginia; New York City; Louisville, Kentucky; Oberlin, Ohio; and Wilmington, Delaware. James McBride describes how he changed from a confused child into an intellectual individual. Although the story talks about many small events that all built up James McBride as a person, there were three major events that