Analysis Of The Man Who Was Almost A Man By Richard Wright

Analysis Of The Man Who Was Almost A Man By Richard Wright

What does it mean to be a man? This question is an abstract, complex, and profound inquiry into the essence of manhood that humanity may never truly discover a conclusive understanding. The various facets that encompass the concept of manhood are numerous, but the often unexplainable connection amongst power and manhood seems to be a mainstay in the opinions of men regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. In Richard Wright's short story, "The Man Who Was Almost a Man", Wright addresses the relationship between power and the desire to become a man. Throughout this literary piece, white men and black men engage in conflicts of power both within their ethnic communities and across racial groups. However, the aspiration of a young black boy named Dave to obtain power in order to ascend into manhood is the focal point of this short story. Dave's attempt at transitioning from a boy to a man is an arduous journey that arguably concludes in failure (Wright, 3–18). Although written to supply Dave a means to achieve power and manhood in a new environment, the conclusion of "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" could have been fashioned in an ironic and heartbreaking manner which would ultimately grant Dave the intangibles he seeks. In this same thought, composing an alternative ending in which Dave shoots at Mr. Hawkins' house accidentally killing his own father, Bob Saunders, would have further addressed the dynamics surrounding boyhood and manhood hopefully revealing the

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