Disillusionment Of Man Analysis

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Recommended: Langston Hughes major influences on writing

Sacoyia Regazzi
Mrs. Barszcz
English 11
23, April 2017
Disillusionment Changes Everything
During the time period of 1920-1940, many American stories were written. This was a time in American history that is known as the Harlem Renaissance. At the time of the Harlem Renaissance, authors wrote on different things. However, the main focuses of author’s writings were mainly based on the African American culture. Writings from Ralph Ellison, and Langston Hughes demonstrated these works within their writings. Their writings also created a theme of disillusionment, and how belief and frustration, only lead to disappointment. As a result of the Harlem Renaissance, a theme of disillusionment of man was created in American literary history, through the authors’ writings of American literature. …show more content…

John has a little boy he looks after that has to stay in the back of the building. Since John and his little boy are both African American, they are both judged by the community, and have responsibilities to uphold as well. In this story it conveys the theme of disillusionment of man. One example from the story that shows this is when John’s little boy is playing with his ball, and a white boy takes it and throws it into the manager’s office to get him in trouble. Additionally, not even knowing what really happened, the manager Berry is furious with John. In the story he says “Well if I ever see him around her again, you’re going to find yourself behind the black ball. Now get him on round the back and then come up here and clean up this mess he’s made.” (Ellison 351). This shows how upset the manager was with John about the ball being thrown, and how he is initially frustrated with the belief that Johns little boy threw it up there. This is one way that the theme of disillusionment of man is created through this time in

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