Paradise Of The Blind Research Paper

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The “Paradise of the Blind” and “Black Boy,” while set almost 50 years apart and halfway across the world, exemplify the universality of certain stories through writing. They demonstrate how people worldwide have similar experiences. “Paradise of the Blind” is set in post-war Vietnam and was written by Duong Thu Huong, a Vietnamese woman who crafted a pseudo-autobiography based on her own experiences. The narrative follows the fictional character, Hang. The novel “Paradise of The Blind” is banned in Vietnam due to its anti-communist messaging. “Black Boy,” an autobiography written by Richard Wright, is set in the South from 1912 to 1927. It focuses on the life and struggles of Richard as an intelligent black man. Both novels feature oppressed …show more content…

This results in those it was supposed to protect being harmed the most by it. The most obvious example of the failure of communism is seen in Aunt and Uncle Chinh’s family. Despite being well-respected members of the party, with her teaching at a communist school and him having a government job, they are unable to provide for their family. When we first see their home, their dinner is incredibly small, with the pate even being described as “as thin as a cat's tongue.” This description of the pate is an obvious hyperbole to illustrate their poverty, as they struggle to feed themselves and their children on the salaries of a government official and teacher. They are expected to portray the ideal government official’s family, despite the hardships the job causes. They are the people who should be supported by communism, yet they are suffering the most while doing everything they can to support the system. Another example of communism failing and causing people to suffer unnecessarily is illustrated in the backstory of Aunt …show more content…

Leading up to Richard’s graduation, he is forced to choose between reading a speech he wrote himself, and one written by his school principal, even being told by his school principal that he will make sure Richard is unable to get a teaching job. Richard is forced to choose if he wants to maintain his integrity or easily receive a teaching job, and he ultimately chooses his integrity over an easy job that would allow him to quickly escape poverty. This is almost ironic, as Richard has to choose his writing over his freedom, despite his goal being to gain money and flee the South. Richard has to choose between falling into the expected role of an intelligent black man in the Jim Crow South, or to claim what society views as the position of a white man and speak his truth. In conclusion, “Paradise of the Blind” and “Black Boy” are both novels that show the universality of certain experiences through narrative stories. Poverty is the common thread that ties both novels together, affecting every aspect of the characters' lives, from their ability to attend school to their familial

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