Introduction
In his novella The Man Who Was Almost a Man Richard Wright tells the story of a seventeen-year-old African-American adolescent, Dave Saunders, who has a strong desire to buy a gun to prove to everyone that he is a grown-up man. He truly believes that the gun will make him look stronger and that it will earn him the respect of other people. The protagonist pictures himself as an adult, able to make strong-willed decisions. Yet, his behavior demonstrates that he remains a fearful boy unable to face the consequences of his actions. Dace accidentally shoots a mule but says that he has nothing to do with it. Unable to endure the mockery of other people, he leaves his home abandoning his family. Through this character,
the author explores the conflict between the desire to become more powerful and the necessity to take responsibility for one’s actions. Richard Wright highlights this struggle within Dave by contrasting his inner monologues with his dialogues and describing his relationships with other characters.
The development of the protagonist
At the very beginning, the author gives the readers clears insights into the world of this person who deems himself to be strong and courageous. Dave says, “Ah ain scared them even ef they are bigger me! … Ahm seventeen. Almost a man” (372). The protagonist wants to become “a man like anybody else” (Wright, 373). However, he hardly knows the true meaning of these words. Richard Wright skillfully shows that Dave remains a vulnerable boy, devoid of courage or resolution. First, we need to refer to the scene when he literary implores his mother for two dollars to buy the gun. He reminds a little boy, begging for a toy. He even sounds in this way; for example, he assures his mother that he will “never ask her for nothing no more” (375). It should be borne in mind that the writer deliberately puts the word “never” in italics, emphasizing the idea that such words are typical of a boy.
For Dave, the gun symbolizes power and opportunity to become a real man. Even though he does not even know how to use it, the protagonist is perfectly sure that he “can kill anyone. Black or Write” (376). This is the first thought that enters his mind. He is intent on using this weapon, and it does not even occur to him that this is just a means of self-protection. Dave fails to realize that mere possession of things is not sufficient for becoming a man. However, the most crucial point of this story comes, when he accidentally kills the mule, Jenny. Afterward, Dave tries to exonerate himself from its death. But it is quite evident that the main character is overcome by fear. When rendering his speech, Wright stresses the fact that he is practically stammering. For instance, Dave says “Ahh ddinn gggo tt sshooot hher…. Ah ssswear ffo Gawd Ahh ddin” (Wright, 378). His stammering eloquently demonstrates that the protagonist is utterly scared. This event practically ruins his self-esteem and he understands that he has yet to reach maturity.
Interactions with other characters
Apart from that, Richard Right makes the key protagonist more vivid and realistic by describing his relationships with other people, in particular his family. Even despite this misfortune, Dave is still eager to play with his new toy. He knows that his willfulness has already put his family into trouble because they would have to pay fifty dollars[1] for the mule, Jenny. Yet, this does not prevent him from taking up the weapon once again. Most importantly, he wants to go to the place where “he could be a man”. He has forgotten about his father and mother (380). His major mistake is that under the circumstances a man would not run away from his family, just leaving them to their own devices. To some degree, his behavior is quite understandable. He is afraid of facing his fathers anger or the derision of other field workers whom he despises. Yet, Dave is unable to understand that just by leaving this home he will not solve his problems. In this regard, we need to say that Richard Wright does not want to express his own opinion about the protagonist. He is quite reluctant to assess his behavior. In this way, he urges the readers to form their conclusions about Dave Saunders and the morality of his actions. One cannot say that this teenager is a negative character. More likely, he is a person who has to learn a great number of lessons, for example, that a gun is not the best way of showing one’s strength.
Conclusion
This story by Richard Wright exemplifies the strategies which the writers may employ to portray a person and describe his development with time passing. In this case, the author shows how a teenage boy strives to reach adulthood. Richard Wright brilliantly proves that adolescents frequently overlook the essence of growing up, namely responsibility. The key protagonist, Dave Saunders chooses the wrong way to prove one’s strength. Richard Wright underlines the fact that he is very far from reaching maturity. In this way, Richard Wright enables the readers to put themselves into Daves position and understand his inner world.
Works Cited
Wright, Richard. “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”. In The Oxford Book of American Short Stories by Joyce C. Oates. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.