(no subject)
7/8/06
Jenna Hensley
Eng. II TTh 6-7:50
Mr. LeRoy Click
Essay #3: “The Son In The Afternoon” By: John A. Williams
"The Son In The Afternoon," by John A. Williams is a story about a black man's jealously of a white boy. In the story Wendell is a black man working in the Hollywood film business. After work he goes to pick up his mother, who is watching a young white boy, named Ronnie. Wendell turns to be very jealous of the boy, because he believes that his mother gives the boy more attention than she gives him. He watches her fix his coat, hug him, and console him in a way he felt she was too busy to ever provide. In spite of this, Wendell hugs the boy's mother in front of the boy. This ultimately turns that young boy against his own mother as he slaps her hand away at the conclusion of the story as Wendle and his mother leave. A brief yet tense situation builds throughout and for some, a twisted satisfaction can be felt, however immature it may seem. Underlying Wendell’s reasoning for making the child angry is his own story of growing up angry, letting his mother give all affection away for his financial benefit.
The narration of the story is very blunt and appropriate for the late sixties, in which it was written. Wendell’s attitude and opinions of racial discrimination are very prevalent throughout the story, beginning with an explanation of his job. Ironically he foretells what movies can and cannot use in dialog/action that may be offensive to the African American culture. In the story he provides us, the restrictions he uses for his own career are limitless and somewhat hilarious.
Although the story exemplifies a severe problem in American equality, racially and financially, its tone is childish and raw. Getting back at the small boy by comforting his willing mother isn’t exactly the most mature revenge, but revenge at least! At some point in life everyone gets a laugh at others feeling what they have once felt, no matter how devastating. Going against the norms of society, Wendell’s dexterous smooching left the demanding white boy devastated and the audience entertained.
Clearly, the dispute is solely between Wendell the grown black man, and Ronnie, the small white boy. The dispute of the times plays hand in hand with as to why the small white boy would even be angry his mother would be friendly with Wendell. The service of the upper-class Californian lifestyle is employed by ‘minorities.’ Wendell’s attempt to get back at a lifetime of those arrangements leads him to provoke some harsh and uncomfortable realities for the child. As the child eventually is mad as his mother, the audience may eventually understand Wendell’s motives, invoking a jelous memory for the rest of Ronnie’s life. Parallel to Ronnie’s new jelousy, Wendell’s jelousy has lasted a lifetime for him and is something he will always struggle with. Seeing his own mother works as a mother for richer, whiter persons, it can be easily understood that he may want some revenge on the frivolous lifestyle of a rich white boy, being taken care of by his own caretaker.
”Ten Miles West of Venus” By: Judy Troy
Plot
Character
Idea
Conflict
Point of veiw
Jenna Hensley
Eng. II TTh 6-7:50
Mr. LeRoy Click
Essay #3: “The Son In The Afternoon” By: John A. Williams
"The Son In The Afternoon," by John A. Williams is a story about a black man's jealously of a white boy. In the story Wendell is a black man working in the Hollywood film business. After work he goes to pick up his mother, who is watching a young white boy, named Ronnie. Wendell turns to be very jealous of the boy, because he believes that his mother gives the boy more attention than she gives him. He watches her fix his coat, hug him, and console him in a way he felt she was too busy to ever provide. In spite of this, Wendell hugs the boy's mother in front of the boy. This ultimately turns that young boy against his own mother as he slaps her hand away at the conclusion of the story as Wendle and his mother leave. A brief yet tense situation builds throughout and for some, a twisted satisfaction can be felt, however immature it may seem. Underlying Wendell’s reasoning for making the child angry is his own story of growing up angry, letting his mother give all affection away for his financial benefit.
The narration of the story is very blunt and appropriate for the late sixties, in which it was written. Wendell’s attitude and opinions of racial discrimination are very prevalent throughout the story, beginning with an explanation of his job. Ironically he foretells what movies can and cannot use in dialog/action that may be offensive to the African American culture. In the story he provides us, the restrictions he uses for his own career are limitless and somewhat hilarious.
Although the story exemplifies a severe problem in American equality, racially and financially, its tone is childish and raw. Getting back at the small boy by comforting his willing mother isn’t exactly the most mature revenge, but revenge at least! At some point in life everyone gets a laugh at others feeling what they have once felt, no matter how devastating. Going against the norms of society, Wendell’s dexterous smooching left the demanding white boy devastated and the audience entertained.
Clearly, the dispute is solely between Wendell the grown black man, and Ronnie, the small white boy. The dispute of the times plays hand in hand with as to why the small white boy would even be angry his mother would be friendly with Wendell. The service of the upper-class Californian lifestyle is employed by ‘minorities.’ Wendell’s attempt to get back at a lifetime of those arrangements leads him to provoke some harsh and uncomfortable realities for the child. As the child eventually is mad as his mother, the audience may eventually understand Wendell’s motives, invoking a jelous memory for the rest of Ronnie’s life. Parallel to Ronnie’s new jelousy, Wendell’s jelousy has lasted a lifetime for him and is something he will always struggle with. Seeing his own mother works as a mother for richer, whiter persons, it can be easily understood that he may want some revenge on the frivolous lifestyle of a rich white boy, being taken care of by his own caretaker.
”Ten Miles West of Venus” By: Judy Troy
Plot
Character
Idea
Conflict
Point of veiw