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Research in african american literature
Portrayal of african american in literature
Research in african american literature
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The Mask The mask is a form of deception or illusion. Sometimes, it can be worn as both. It hides the true emotions of slaves, keeping the slave master from knowing what is going on in their minds. The mask also allows the slave to have an identity without the master’s detection. The mask gives the illusion that the slave is exactly how the masters believe, ignorant, incapable of true emotion, and unable to think for themselves. A perfect depiction of the mask can be found in Charles Chestnutt’s The Passing of Grandison. Colonel, Grandison’s master, believed that he would never try to escape if allowed to go on a journey with his son, Dick. The colonel recommends to Dick that he bring Grandison along on his travels. “What’s the matter with Grandison?” suggested the colonel. “ He’s handy enough, and I reckon we can trust him. He’s too fond of good eating to risk losing his regular meals; besides, he’s sweet on your mother’s maid, Betty…” ( 536) The colonel’s belief in Grandison as a faithful servant, proves that he was in fact deceived by the mask that Grandison was wearing. In another passage, colonel is discussing with Grandison if he feels better off than the free negroes that don’t have “ no kind master to look after them and no mistress to give them medicine.” Grandison replies with an answer that reflecting his accomadation to colonel. “ Well, I sh’d jes reckon I is better off, suh, dan dem low- down free niggers, suh! Ef anybody ax’em who dey B’long ter, dey has ter say nobody, er e’se lie erbout it. Anybody ax me who I B’longs ter, I ain’ got no ‘casion ter be shame ‘ter tell ‘em, no, suh, ‘deed I ain’, suh!” (536) By Grandison replying in this matter, he used the mask to deceive the colonel and fool him into thinking that he never thought about being free. He was able to make the colonel believe that he was indeed content. Not only was Grandison able to fool the colonel with the mask, but he was able to fool Dick as well. While they were up north, Dick warned Grandison about the abolitionists. He also tells him that it is his opportunity to see how the free negroes live. Dick asks Grandison if he met any of them. “Yas, suh, I’s seen some of ‘em. But I don’ keer nuffin fer ‘em, suh.
Many Characters in the novel Grand Avenue, by Greg Sarris, are wearing masks. Masks that conceal themselves and their culture in an attempt to fit into the world that has enveloped their history and stifled their heritage. The key to these masks is the eyes. The eyes of the characters in the novel tell stories.
... officer was a “white hat,” in the book they referred to them as newjack. Most of the guards were turnkey; they had little contact with inmates. Lastly, one guard told Ted Conover to live at work the problem at work and not bring it home with him. In class we talked about how officer go home with the problems of the job, which is not healthy for them and their family.
A mask makes one unknown, unrecognized, and mysterious. When the first mask was put on, Jack "looked no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger" (Golding page #). At the formation of Jack's tribe, all who join wear a mask from that time on and become a part of the savages. As three savages return to steal fire, they are driven because they are "demoniac figures with faces of white and red" (Golding page #) not individual boys. The mask becomes such an anonymous symbol that, towards the end of the story, Ralph "gazed at the green and black mask before him trying to remember what Jack looked like" (Golding page #). Whether stealing, fighting, or hunting, the savages found their courage because they "looked like something else" "hidden behind the mask of paint" (Golding page #).
words. Sir Gryfflette is very sure of himself and repeats why he is there by confidently
In a way, our government does wear a mask, one of civilization. A mask that hides our true instincts, can easily be removed, and is kept on in hopes for a greater good. Based on Golding’s views of humanity, we are truly barbarians by nature; nonetheless, our mask has become an essential aspect of our lives, enabling us to achieve our common goals. Now, we are solely left to question ourselves, will there come a time where this mask will be removed or possibly, fall off?
Though a mask may just be a paper cut out, a molded piece of plastic, or in the Lord of the Flies, a painted face, they all have the same ability to create a feeling of freedom from responsibility. They may make they wearer feel more important or powerful and too good for work, leading to a lack of fulfillment of their responsibility. This belief in freedom from responsibility is best exemplified by Jack, the first one on the island to begin wearing a mask. He used a mask because he felt it gave him power and skill, giving him reason to take up hunting as a prime responsibility, opposed to keeping the fire going. In their...
Regardless of the origins, regardless of the propriety? the existence of the masquerade as a part of popular urban culture in the eighteenth century cannot be denied. The masquerade was a much needed outlet for the people of this time who constantly had to keep their behavior within the strict confines of what was socially acceptable. By putting one mask on, the masqueraders were able to take a more fundamental mask off.
Douglass’s first encounter with a slave owner’s violence occurred on Captain Anthony’s farm. He frequently found himself woken by the agonizing screams of his own aunt being brutally whipped for her wrongdoings. He describes Captain Anthony as ruthless, brutal and taking “great pleasure in whipping a slave” (Douglass 3). Captain Anthony reveled in the idea of complete dominance over his slaves. He lived under an overseer, named Mr. Plummer. The slaves living on the farms were not fully under his control, so he took advantage of every opportunity to feel powerful and domineering. In addition, Douglass also describes an encounter involving Aunt Hester seeing another man. Captain Anthony did not approve of this and exclaims “I’ll learn you how to disobey my orders!” (Douglass 4), then proceeded to whip her. Douglass hints towards the sexual tension between Anthony and Hester. Not only did he own her for work, but also to satisfy his sexual desires.
“Well, I did. I said I wouldn’t, and I’ll stick to it. Honest injun, I will. People would call me a...
When attending a masquerade, a person is expected to wear a mask. In fact, it’s looked down upon if a mask isn’t worn. But, what if for some people that mask never came off? In A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, each character has constructed their own metaphorical mask that they set firmly in place every morning when exiting their bed. Each character: Nora, Torvald, Kristine and Krogstad all have masks that they put in place when speaking to each other. Throughout most of the play, it is clear that all of the aforementioned characters have multiple facades that they use when speaking to one another; often switching quickly as they begin speaking to someone else. Henrik Ibsen’s use of the masquerade serves as an extended metaphor to show the masks that the characters use in their everyday lives.
Douglass’ different portrayals of his masters provide the most significant theme of his Narrative. Douglass believed his first master Captain Aaron Anthony fathered him. He depicts Captain Anthony as a cruel man who took pleasure beating and whipping his slaves, especially his Aunt Hester. On a particular occasion, Douglass witnessed his master force his Aunt into the kitchen, strip her naked, and whip her till her blood ran thick. This marked Douglass’ introduction to slavery as a young boy and forever impacted his view towards slavery. At the age of seven, Captain Anthony sent Douglass to work for his second master, Hugh Auld, Captain Anthony’s son-in-l...
of the use of the mask, gave no illusion that this story is happening before
First, Griffin reveals that there is a hidden side to everyone that is only known within, and anything outside could be a false representation, or imposter. “I think of it now as a kind of mask, not an animated mask that expresses the essence of an inner truth, but a mask that falls like dead weight over the human face” (Griffin 349). This quote captures what she is trying to say about secrets being the barrier to others’ feelings. The mask Griffin talks about represents the barrier to the secrets. Having this mask shields what is on the inside.
The townspeople of Boston stopped communicating with him because of the simple black veil that shielded his face. '"I don't like it,'' muttered an old woman,' as she hobbled into the meeting-house. ’He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face.' The evidence of a veil concealing his face frightened the people of this small Puritan town. Elizabeth, his fiancée demanded, "Lift the veil but once, and look me in the face." She established the fact that she and the other people are definitely afraid of the unknown.
To continue, let's examine psychodynamic theories. For this mask, I colored it in a way I felt