In a short essay called Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin, he writes about his bitter father and the segregated society he grew up in. The author’s situations seem to come together in the essay. Some of the topics he talks about are hatred he has toward his father and also society as well.
While growing up he was never happy to see him or close to him. But later I the book he talks about how society, white and blacks relationship, was bitter and his father was also. He represents the relationship between these two by equally representing how Baldwin sees them, society and his father’s bitterness. For example Baldwin hates his father for judging everyone before he knows them. For instance, when Baldwin went to the theater with his white teacher, even though he went his father still didn’t agree with him going with her, because he said “you can’t trust white people.”Then societies show this same judgment toward Baldwin, when he goes to the diner and the waitress replies, “we don’t serve blacks.”These two examples come together because they show judgment of people by their skin and how they are both making Baldwin grow bitter as well.
Overall, this short essay seemed to relate his father and the relationship that blacks and whites had together by representing how they made him grow bitter and angry. But Baldwin tells us how they both criticize each other. But Baldwin tells us the he is holding the bitterness he got from his father and society, which is making his heart heavy, and wishes he, could change his father and the relationship between society, as well to keep the bitterness away.
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3 comments:
I agree with what you have written in your essay. I feel that his dad was very judgmental and Baldwin had a lot of hatred toward him. Baldwins father had resentment against white people and too me took it over board. He felt as if because he was black he was superior when we are all equal. The hatred toward his father and the comparison that Baldwin makes are parallel to each other. This writing was also very complex and written with much detail. It was the type of essay you need to read a few times to understand completely what the author was trying to say.
I enjoyed your blog. What you wrote is an example of being able to overcome those difficult times with the onesyou love. If you are able to still love someone after the cruelness they have showed you, then you are a marvelous individual. This goes to show that people can change due to others that influence them.
I also enjoyed your blog. The thought of how Baldwin is bitter not only towards his father but towards society as well had never really crossed my mind. You used much detail and great examples to get your point across, great blog.
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