Story Summary
The story of “Like a Winding Sheet” is set in a racially segregated society, and Johnson wakes up in the morning feeling tired and frustrated. He is married to Mae, and they struggle to make ends meet. Johnson’s frustration grows as he faces various forms of discrimination. As he goes about his daily routine, he encounters racism from both strangers and people he knows. A white man in a car mocks him, and a white woman at the grocery store treats him disrespectfully.
When Johnson arrives at work, he is met with even more racism, which makes him already exhausted and tense. The straw that breaks the camel’s back comes when a white coworker, Frank, insults him. In a fit of rage, Johnson attacks Frank, choking him. The story ends with Johnson realizing the consequences of his actions and understanding the weight of racism and discrimination.
Analysis of an External Conflict
The conflict between Johnson and the counter girl at the restaurant is a significant moment that reveals the central theme of racial tension and discrimination in the story. The counter girl deliberately ignores Johnson when he orders his food at the restaurant. This behavior highlights the systemic prejudice that African Americans have to face. “He wanted to strike her that the scarlet lipstick on her mouth would smear and spread over her nose…” (WordPress, 2015). The conflict serves as a commentary on the pervasive racism faced by African Americans during the time the story is set.
Analysis of an Internal Conflict
The internal conflict of Johnson’s treatment of women is not explicitly explored in the story but can be extracted from Johnson’s character and his overall frustration.
“The knowledge that he had struck her seeped through him slowly, and he was appalled, but he couldn’t drag his hands away from her face. He kept striking her, and he thought with horror that something inside of him was holding him, binding him to this act, wrapping and twisting about him so that he had to continue it. He had lost all control over his hands”. (WordPress, 2015)
This passage underscores the psychological complexity of the characters in the story and hints at the broader themes of frustration and societal pressure that contribute to such acts of violence. It exudes a profound sense of unease and compels us to delve deeper into the story’s exploration of human relationships and societal issues.
Reference
WordPress (2015). Like a Winding Sheet – Petry. Web.