Examples Of Dualism In The Color Of Water

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The Duality of Race: An Appeal to Curiosity The Color of Water is an account detailing the growth of a mixed race boy in an entirely racist and tumultuous society. James McBride is the author and main character, but he is not the only one telling the story. Throughout the novel the story is split into two narratives: one from James own life and the other from an interview that he conducted with his mother, Ruth Mcbride. The Color of Water successfully portrays important issues of two time periods. The voices of James McBride and his mother perfectly compliment one another in this telling of James’ story of self-actualization. Our author finds himself in the story of his mother's life, coming to terms with race, religion, and his childhood. Throughout the novel, multiple parallels sustain James’ story, while creating pivotal reference points for his mother's parenting and feelings towards the Jewish community. The parallelism throughout the novel creates a stimulating tale of a young boys growth in a society not unlike himself, that is, split into multiple parts of one whole. …show more content…

James’ issues with identity are the perfect motivating force for the dualistic nature of the novel, as his mother’s story becomes a necessity to fully understand our character. The most demanding aspect of the The Color of Water becomes the reader's desire to understand the author’s plight as well as their inherent ability to make connections between James and Ruth's lives. Their stories juxtapose and create a polarizing confrontation for the reader, granting the reader a new incite on race. (Geiger) This novel presents to the reader something akin to the “power of the moon.”

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