In Native Son and Black Boy,
religion plays a role in how the main characters see the world. Identify the
ways religion is embraced &/or rejected. Why is it (or is it) central to the
plot?
In Black Boy, Richard Wright was forced to go to religious school because of his action, for example once he cursed in front of Jody, and using knife against Addie when she tried to beat him up. His actions and curiosity made Aunt Addie and Granny wanting to save Richard’s soul by forcing him to go to religious school and church. Apparently religious did not help Richard as much as Granny has expected, and have made the relationship situation even worse between them. Once Richard whispers to Granny that he might believe in God if he saw an angel, maybe because of the age, Granny hears him incorrectly and thinking that Richard said he saw an angle, and she proudly informed everyone in the church that Richard has saw an angle but in front of everyone at the church, he actually corrected at Granny’s misunderstanding which embarrassed her. As a result, religion has impacted Richard emotionally but he is unable to believe in God because of the oppressive idea of poor people suffers lead to the pessimistic view of the world therefore Richard became an atheist who did not believe in the existence of God. The main idea for their family is to help Richard Wright, to make him pessimistic about the things going around black community, only then he will be able to grow positively and be liked by the people around him who have their own believes, in the book the idea of religion is believed by the people around him but rejected by Richard Wright.
In Black Boy by Richard Wright, religion plays a major role throughout Part 1 of the novel. Richard Wright’s family believed in religion and God. For them, it was a safe haven and a sense of community, a community that has a mutual support base (God). Richard himself was a young boy that abided by his mother’s wishes until he began to rebel. Richard went to church and church school. He even got baptized but he was baptized because of social pressure. He did not want to hurt his mother more than he already has and embarrass her from the congregation. Richard Wright eventually started to tell his family members that he did not believe in religion or God. His mother beat him because his opinion differed from that of his families. Richard would not embrace religion and this truly affected the central plot of the book because Richard did not have family support and he was an outcast. Richard tried to appease his grandmother by telling her he would pray everyday but in actuality the act of pray makes him laugh. He was the only family member to rebel and he paid for it. He was made to go to a Religious school with his aunt. Eventually, he left this school and went to a public school. Unfortunately, Richard’s family is cold and hostile toward him. His family refuses to help him pay for public school textbooks. He further irritates his family when he tries to get a job on Saturday’s which is considered a religious day.
Religion is a central theme in the novel Black Boy, by Richard Wright. Richard is raised in an incredibly religious household between his Mother, Aunt Addie, and Granny. They all force the love of God upon him in such a relentless matter that it seems to push Richard away from the idea. I believe that it is this forcing by his family that brings out his rebellious attitude towards religion. After Richard had to attend church school against his own will it became apparent that he was disinterested. He could not even concentrate on anything in church, but the minister’s pretty wife. It was not that the boy did not believe in God, but that he did not particularly care whether or not he existed. This struggle between religions continued as a central theme for most of the novel. Ultimately Richard was never able to accept Jesus as his lord and savior. This was illustrated by Richard and his friends skipping church even after they were baptized. This struggle between religion and Richard pushed him farther and farther away from his family.
Religion in both Black Boy and Native Son are seen as this persistent force trying to get in. Religion in the sense of these works of art can be compared to a person you're not really friends with but you associate with them and day after day they try to hangout with you but you're just not interested and they show up at your job or like all of your posts on facebook in an attempt to have you realize their presence. I think it can be inferred that Richard Wright wasn't a very religious man and in my opinion when religion is out of the picture one can further understand what it is they're faced with on a deeper level. But then again that's just my opinion.
In Black Boy, Richard Wright was forced to go to religious school because of his action, for example once he cursed in front of Jody, and using knife against Addie when she tried to beat him up. His actions and curiosity made Aunt Addie and Granny wanting to save Richard’s soul by forcing him to go to religious school and church. Apparently religious did not help Richard as much as Granny has expected, and have made the relationship situation even worse between them. Once Richard whispers to Granny that he might believe in God if he saw an angel, maybe because of the age, Granny hears him incorrectly and thinking that Richard said he saw an angle, and she proudly informed everyone in the church that Richard has saw an angle but in front of everyone at the church, he actually corrected at Granny’s misunderstanding which embarrassed her. As a result, religion has impacted Richard emotionally but he is unable to believe in God because of the oppressive idea of poor people suffers lead to the pessimistic view of the world therefore Richard became an atheist who did not believe in the existence of God. The main idea for their family is to help Richard Wright, to make him pessimistic about the things going around black community, only then he will be able to grow positively and be liked by the people around him who have their own believes, in the book the idea of religion is believed by the people around him but rejected by Richard Wright.
ReplyDeleteIn Black Boy by Richard Wright, religion plays a major role throughout Part 1 of the novel. Richard Wright’s family believed in religion and God. For them, it was a safe haven and a sense of community, a community that has a mutual support base (God). Richard himself was a young boy that abided by his mother’s wishes until he began to rebel. Richard went to church and church school. He even got baptized but he was baptized because of social pressure. He did not want to hurt his mother more than he already has and embarrass her from the congregation.
ReplyDeleteRichard Wright eventually started to tell his family members that he did not believe in religion or God. His mother beat him because his opinion differed from that of his families. Richard would not embrace religion and this truly affected the central plot of the book because Richard did not have family support and he was an outcast. Richard tried to appease his grandmother by telling her he would pray everyday but in actuality the act of pray makes him laugh. He was the only family member to rebel and he paid for it. He was made to go to a Religious school with his aunt. Eventually, he left this school and went to a public school.
Unfortunately, Richard’s family is cold and hostile toward him. His family refuses to help him pay for public school textbooks. He further irritates his family when he tries to get a job on Saturday’s which is considered a religious day.
Religion is a central theme in the novel Black Boy, by Richard Wright. Richard is raised in an incredibly religious household between his Mother, Aunt Addie, and Granny. They all force the love of God upon him in such a relentless matter that it seems to push Richard away from the idea. I believe that it is this forcing by his family that brings out his rebellious attitude towards religion. After Richard had to attend church school against his own will it became apparent that he was disinterested. He could not even concentrate on anything in church, but the minister’s pretty wife. It was not that the boy did not believe in God, but that he did not particularly care whether or not he existed. This struggle between religions continued as a central theme for most of the novel. Ultimately Richard was never able to accept Jesus as his lord and savior. This was illustrated by Richard and his friends skipping church even after they were baptized. This struggle between religion and Richard pushed him farther and farther away from his family.
ReplyDeleteReligion in both Black Boy and Native Son are seen as this persistent force trying to get in. Religion in the sense of these works of art can be compared to a person you're not really friends with but you associate with them and day after day they try to hangout with you but you're just not interested and they show up at your job or like all of your posts on facebook in an attempt to have you realize their presence. I think it can be inferred that Richard Wright wasn't a very religious man and in my opinion when religion is out of the picture one can further understand what it is they're faced with on a deeper level. But then again that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Anonymous
Delete