Symbolism In The Man Who Was Almost A Man

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The Man Who Was Almost a Man by Richard Wright is based on a seven-teen year old boy named Dave Saunders, who worked on a plantation plowing the fields and deep down, felt absolutely powerless. The short story introduces Dave as a weaker link compared to all the other plantation workers. “One of these days he was going to get a gun and practice shooting, then they couldn’t talk to him as though he were a little boy.” (Wright 294) This passage proves that Dave was treated very differently on the job. Wright uses symbolism in the story as to which the gun that Dave wants to buy, symbolizes him being a man. He wants to feel that power, he wants to mean something, and he wants to feel strong and free.

Dave Saunders was the man that was almost …show more content…

Joe’s store because for one, Mr. Joe seems to know the Saunders family well and second, he was about to take the first step in what he believes is manhood and start looking for the right gun. In Dave’s eyes, this was a very big deal. “You ain’t nothing but a boy. You don’t need a gun” (Wright 295) Just to have Mr. Joe call him a boy after he built up the courage to go in the store and ask for the gun catalog. Until Mr. Joe offered to sell him an immense old gun of his. “Oh, it’s kind of old… a left-hand Wheeler. A pistol. A big one.” (Wright …show more content…

Just when he thinks everything is fine, he accidentally shoots the mule, Jenny. Right after the incident, Dave felt distressed. “Dave’s stomach felt empty, very empty.” (Wright 300) When Dave was put on the spot and asked about the gun and the mule plenty of times he still lied. “Well, looks like you have bought you a mule, Dave.” (Wright 301) Dave’s realizing that he made a mistake and is unsure about what to do. You can tell he’s this upset him and make him uneasy because he keeps stuttering when he’s glaring and showing attitude. “Dave glared, his eyes welling with water. Hot anger bubbled in him.” (Wright 302) Dave’s world came crashing down. He thought having the gun would make him a man and solve everything. He thought he would be invincible. He was wrong. Dave had so much fiery inside of him from being treated as a little boy and being laughed at, that he went out into the woods to practice shooting before he took his final leap to manhood. “He felt his pocket; the gun was still there. Ahead the long rails were glinting in the moonlight, stretching away, away to somewhere, somewhere where he could be a man…” (Wright

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