The Transcendental movement of the mid-nineteenth century encompassed the ideas of Platonism, Patheism, Puritanism, and most importantly, Romanticism. During this era, Romanticism was prominent in American literature. Richard Wright created a novel which captured the true essence of that era. The novel would become the universal example of the transcendental ideal. That novel is Black Boy. Black Boy enveloped the ideas upon which the transcendental period was based. Ralph Waldo Emerson created a term which would transform all transcendental concepts into human form. His image of the “self-reliant man” combined outstanding human qualities to create an exemplary figure through which the entire era would be reflected in.
This term would be personified through the character of Richard Wright. Richard’s refusal to retaliate, his nonconformist ways, and his greatness in a society which misunderstands him is the embodiment of Emerson’s “self-reliant man”. Richard Wright lived during a time in which society conspired against blacks. Though constantly tempted to retaliate against the conspiracy, Richard almost always resisted. While working in an optical factory, Wright was constantly ridiculed by two of the workers, and was repeatedly tricked into being punished. For example, when Mr. Reeves accuses Richard of referring to Mr. Kearns in a disrespectful manner, Richard must choose between being punished for committing this act, or of accusing Mr. Reeves of lying. Instead of retaliating against this conspiracy, he chooses to give in and live with his punishment. He chose not to requite; instead he chose the lesser of two evils. In an era when conformity promised safety, Richard Wright chose not to conform, which promised independence.
The Essay on Summary: "Library Card" By Richard Wright
“The Library Card” is based on the real situations Richard Wright experienced while growing up. The setting was back in time in an era where blacks were known to be ignorant due to the laws of the white man. Blacks were restricted from good education and that means that most of them couldn’t read at all and because of this Richard Wrights writes his struggles in the Library Card. ...
During the time in which Richard Wright was growing up, society was desperately trying to force its black members to conform. For instance, religion became a form of conformism. The community chose to attend church in order to be part of a group, as opposed to attending in order to further their religious knowledge. Wright did not allow himself to be persuaded by his grandmother, and did not allow himself to be forced into something he did not believe in. Yet another example of Richard’s nonconformist ways is when he is given a speech to recite as the valedictorian of the school. Richard declines, and chooses to read his own instead. “I wanted to graduate, but I did not want to make a speech that was not my own .Then I don’t graduate(p.207).” He risked not graduating in order to preserve his own dignity. By risking his school status as well as his dignity, he shows his passion for individuality.
Therefore, Wright is a strong conformist who stands apart from society. Richard’s aspirations and personal drive to stand apart from society led him to be misunderstood by others. This is ultimately summarized when Richard says, “ Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton(p.194).” This shows that, along with Emerson himself, many of the great thinkers of the time were drastically misunderstood by society. Nevertheless, they grew to become essentially great thinkers. His dreams to make something of himself cause him to stand apart from society. His incredible drive and nonconformist ways make him a misunderstood individual within society. Richard Wright possessed qualities which identified him as the ultimate “self-reliant man”. His rejection of a society which conspires against him, his refusal to conform, and his true greatness in a society which misunderstands him, makes him the ideal image of this term. Just as he is the embodiment of the “self-reliant man”, Black Boy is the embodiment of the transcendental era.
The Essay on Shakespeare Richard Ii Makes The Audience
King Richard and Bolingbroke are without doubt the two most central and influential figures in Richard II. It can also be said that to a certain extent that when a degree of hostility is felt towards one character a degree of sympathy is felt towards the other character. Richard is the focus of Act One. He has the opening lines, which immediately establish him as a central figure. He is faced with ...
