Introduction
Every person experiences shame in their life, which penetrates and makes one think about their actions and statements. In his story, the author recalls when he first experienced this feeling and what led him to it through the experience of a little boy, Richard, who lives in the ghetto. Richard is constantly confronted with the themes of racism, injustice, and actions that make him feel shame. The author’s main idea is that every person can find within themselves a source of inspiration to fight shame and confront prejudice. In “Shame,” the author emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance, the resilience of the human spirit, and the identity through which a person can destroy the restrictive social framework.
Analysis
Self-acceptance is necessary for a person in order to transform their views on life and society. Richard’s feelings of shame and hatred were rooted in the racial prejudice that society had shaped. However, introspection and awareness of the importance of each person helped him understand and accept himself, realizing his value.
This can be seen in the decision to help another person with whom Richard was late: “I waited too long to help another man” (Gregory 4). Despite its brevity, this quote fully reflects how Richard has learned to handle his feelings. They helped him determine the importance of the right attitude towards any person, especially when they are in trouble. In the world of the character, this awareness plays an important role in being defined as a person.
This self-acceptance played a decisive role in Richard’s later life, helping him normalize his relationship with himself. Helping the other person also helped to identify that the differences between people are insignificant and should not be the cause of conflict. Thus, his self-identification was able to give him the necessary strength to move on.
The resilience of the human spirit has become an important manifestation for Richard, helping him make responsible decisions. This is logical since this aspect was able to guide the character throughout the story and help in doing the right things. Evidence for this might be: “My daddy said he’d give…fifteen dollars” (Gregory 2). Thus, the boy found strength in himself and showed fortitude in defending the honor of his father. This is an especially iconic passage, considering that Richard did not have a dad.
However, despite this, he wanted the teacher and classmates not to consider him an outcast and not like everyone else. This action required much effort from the character, as he understood it might not end well. Despite this, his desire to show himself to be the same as everything was above the risks. Therefore, this quote is essential for understanding how the strength of the spirit developed in the character and led to further plot twists.
Awareness of one’s identity also plays a significant role in the character, as it requires a turning point in the story. This is credible as Richard got past the point where the teacher would not let him donate. This is confirmed by the following: “I spent much time feeling sorry for myself” (Gregory 3). Thus, Richard blamed himself for what he said about money and tried to impersonate the same person as everyone else.
However, he later realized that there was nothing wrong with being different. Different people have many qualities, not all of which are good. However, these differences form their identity, which Richard does not lack. He must know it and understand how it can affect his life. In the future, this will help him avoid the shame that has now completely engulfed him.
Conclusion
To conclude, shame is a feeling that can completely engulf human thoughts. However, such essential aspects as self-determination, the human spirit, and identity determine how a person will be able to perceive themselves in society. To what extent can these aspects influence the formation of personality in childhood? The qualities of a human character are formed throughout life and can play a big role in how a person lives it.
Work Cited
Gregory, Dick. Shame. n. d. Web.