NON-AFRICAN PROSE
RICHARD WRIGHT: Black Boy
Discuss the relationship between Richard and his father.
Explanation
The relationship between Richard and his father, Mr. Wright is highlighted mostly in Richard's early childhood. This relationship goes a long way in shaping Richard's personality as well as his perception of life. The first instance of their relationship is unfolded during the fire that engulfs their house. Richard hides under the burning house afraid of the consequences of his action after the desire for adventure leads him into setting the house ablaze. Being too terrified to heed the mother's call to come out of his hiding place, the father's voice which should have brought him relief does otherwise. The father barks at him 'There he is!', 'Come here boy!', 'Come out there, you little fool'
Thus, Richard does not have the trust and sense of belonging a child feels for his father. As he feels the pain of almost being beaten to death by his mother, he knows his father will not save the situation. When the family moves to Memphis, the true relationship between Richard and his father is brought to the limelight. Here, Richard realizes to his chagrin that he cannot make noise or play freely during the daytime because that is when his night porter father sleeps. This situation evokes negative feelings in Richard who sees the father as all-important, forbidding and the family law giver. Richard never laughs in his father's presence and this makes him sullen and withdrawn.
He looks upon his father with as much awe as he would a stranger. All these lead to a loose relationship between Richard and his father. For instance, to spite his father, Richard decides to kill the kitten since the father complains that its noise disturbs his sleep. Richard literally takes his father at his word to "kill that damn thing" just to demonstrate his hate and thus have a triumphant edge over him by questioning his authority in the family. When his father deserts the family, the initial feeling of freedom he enjoys to play as noisily as he likes is gradually replaced by 'pangs of hunger' which he associates with the memory of his father. Thus, the father's desertion paves the way to the development of an independent mind in Richard as he learns to defend himself on the street. It, however, has a negative influence on him. He learns to indulge in 'loose street habits, becomes an alcoholic (as a child), uses obscene language and drops out of school for lack of support.'
The relationship between Richard and his father makes him to exhibit rude behaviour to the pastor who reminds him of his father. After watching the mother drag his father to court for financial assistance to no avail, Richard feels like killing him, especially after seeing him with a strange woman. Richard associates his mother's ill health with the father's desertion and this makes him feel deep hatred for him. Later in life, Richard relates the father's uncaring relationship with the family to the emptiness which every Blackman feels. Having realized this, he forgives the father and even pities him as a "black peasant whose life had been hopelessly snarled in the city" and who flees the city damning the consequences."