Social Discrimination In Danielle Evans's 'Snakes'

Danielle Evans’ second story “Snakes” from the collection of short stories, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self depict a biracial girl who has been pressured due to her grandmother’s urge to dominate her. The story pictures her suffering with remarkable plot twist in the end of the story. Evans utilize a profound approach on how to bring readers to closely examine racism implicitly, to make readers recognize the actions may lead to social discrimination and its consequences that are often encountered in our daily life. Racial differences of offspring due to intermarriage often frustrate family. These differences sometimes result in discrimination or personal dislike against that descendant. Thus, he/she received bad and rough treatment

She stopped letting me sleep on the bottom bunk; she began to tease me about my fears.” (Evans 46). As 9 years old child, Allison is annoyed of Tara because she’s being tedious. Allison’s act might be seen as siding with her grandmother, and this directly explains that Tara went through the suffering alone, without anyone supporting her. This might be the reason why in the end, Tara decided to jumped off the tree, because she felt tortured and pressured badly by everyone surround her, and no one ever pay attention to her. Her best friend who she had always spent time with, giving her back to her, and stressed her to the point that she dare to jump. Somehow, we encounter these kind of situations in real life, and Evans are trying to make readers realize such tragedy really did happened in our surroundings. Frustration due to racial discrimination actually happens commonly. Those kinds of mistreatment that one’s receiving due to differences in race or culture indirectly affect his or her mentality and their character development. Evans wants the readers realize that such offensive behavior we frequently do – whether it is intentional or not intentional – affect other person’s psychological state. Readers ought to be aware of any shape of discrimination among our society and to select suitable actions when binding relationship with people from other

The story turns out to be a real plot twist – Tara is actually jumped, not pushed as what Allison admitted to. Evans try to imply that because of the huge amount of suffering the character Tara has been through, she decided to jump because with that jump, she might be freed from people around her. It might also because she wants her parents to be there with her, since her parents doesn’t seem to have spent quite a time with her; they always busy with their environmental trips to many parts of the world. Tara wants to receive love and affection like every other 9 years old kid. It may also as a sign of rebellion towards her grandmother and to take over control of her mind and body – not being stranded by Lydia. In our society, many parents often neglected their children – care less about them and their development. Parents nowadays only drop their children off in the daycare or school, but never really teach them directly how to behave the community, giving examples how to take and give, and more importantly, sharing love and affection. They are too occupied by their own business that they forget to give their love and warmth to anyone around them – including their children. In this way, children are more likely to suffer from lack of attention and they will grow up without the feel being loved. This kind of situation could lead to lack of self-esteem and confidence, which will affect children’s mentality. Evans tries to suggest the readers that