Introduction
“The Man Who Was Almost a Man,” a short story exploring the young African American protagonist’s search for an identity, captivates with its genuine and unique premise. The story offers a unique lens to the struggles experienced by the protagonist in the context of the chosen period. Evoking the emotions of surprise, concern, and curiosity provides a refreshing emotional experience.
Character Focus: Dave and His Mother’s Subtle Complexity
“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” introduces quite a range of characters as the plot evolves. However, Wright (1961) understandably leaves Dave, the protagonist, in the spotlight, making the reader relate to him most. Although I was interested in what awaited Dave, I did not find him interesting enough; instead, I quickly became invested in the character of Dave’s mother. Her no-nonsense approach and decision not to tell the husband about Dave buying a gun represent a peculiar conflict worth inspecting further. The specified behavior impressed me as uncharacteristic of her initial demeanor and the attitude that she demonstrated.
Power Dynamics Reflected in Supporting Characters
In addition to Ma, other characters demonstrate rather peculiar traits that can be examined further. Specifically, the behavior of the plantation owner made an impression on me. What should have been an understandably upsetting occurrence made little impression on him, yet he continued to impose a massive fine on Joe (Wright, 1961). The specified decision requires more scrutiny since it will help explore the nature of relationships between African American and White communities in the specified time slot.
A Hook with Missed Potential
One should mention the hook to address one of the first components of the story. Although it effectively sets the conflict and introduces the protagonist, it fails to communicate the core conflict that Joe experiences. It is established that Joe wants the gun and would go to impressive lengths to get it, yet the underlying desire to experience power is not communicated clearly (Wright, 1961). To address the problem, the author could have used the introduction to establish Joe as a powerless individual in the described social context.
Personal Interest
“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” is a thrilling and engaging story. What made me keep reading the work was the need to determine whether Joe learned his lesson from the specified incident and how the outcomes would affect his further development and choices. However, to make the story even more meaningful, one could introduce an element that could shed light on Joe’s eventual change in perspective as he takes the train to the unknown.
The story contains many interesting paragraphs, yet the final scene that leaped from the pages was the most engaging and inspiring. The image of Joe hesitating for a while only to grab the edge of the car and get on the train. The scene in question also contains language play since the author’s narration is interspersed with Joe’s interjections as he makes the final decision. Though being rather inconspicuous and, thus, quite natural, the specified stylistic choice contributes to the atmosphere and makes the story all the more believable.
Furthermore, the scene in question is tied directly to the story’s core themes, namely, those of maturation and coming of age. By deciding to hitch a ride on a train, Joe takes his first step into adulthood and breaks ties with his family. However, the specified choice also conflicts with the concept of adulthood since Joe chooses to run away from his problems instead of facing them straightforwardly. Consequently, the question of Joe’s ability to mature remains an unresolved question.
Conclusion
By introducing a unique angle for the story of coming of age for a young man in the rural South, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” is an essential character study and a reminder of the power imbalance within the American community. Using robust symbolism in his story, Wright introduces the reader to a story that thrills with its plot development while offering memorable characters to follow. The story remains a crucial part of the American literary legacy with a powerful underlying meaning of challenging the established power structures and their futility.
References
Wright, R. (1961). The man who was almost a man. Google Docs. Web.