Although Richard is often times very hungry for food since his diet consists of little more than grits and salad, he also hungers for much more. For all of his life he has been neglected in some way. First by his father, then his mother and now his whole family. His grandma thinks he is totally lost and to his aunt he is dead. Richard does not get the attention that he needs and although he says that he does not want to see his family some attention would do him some good. At school he seems to be an outcast and is always looking for ways to be with his classmates but his family restricts his life so much that he cannot satisfy this hunger.
Richard is also very hungry for knowledge and a way to say what he wants. He is always trying to read as much as he can and whenever he can get it around his grandma, he will read fiction rather than the bible. Also tries to improve his writing by submitting his story to the local paper. This shows that he is willing to do whatever he needs to write what he wants. People try to discourage him from this to but he presses on just the same. Finally when Richard is selected as valedictorian of his class the principle gives him a speech to read. Richard refuses this offer and is prepared to give up his title to read his own speech. He wants to learn how to write and wants the people to hear his voice, not the priciples, this shows his hunger for knowledge.
Hunger plays a prime role in Black Boy and shows how wanting life was for Richard growing up. His many hungers give off this sense of great need and help the reader to feel more for Richard and his causes.
2 comments:
I didn't know which to respond to, so I'll do one for each. You have managed to convince me of a hunger I hadn't thought of before: a way to express himself. I've read on the hunger for freedom , but this is different and thus original and deep. Throughout the novel we keep reading passages about conflicts that come up from a misunderstanting (grandma and him "seeing an angel," telling the time to his uncle, grandma getting hurt becasue he dodged her, etc.). Through these passages, we are like the author that we wish the other characters understood him, which would solve a lot of problems in his life and clear up many past mistakes. Perhaps you didn't mean any of this when you wrote that sentatce, but hey, it got me thinking, didn't it? Great work, Amigo, way to make me think!
I agree with what you said about richard hungering for knowledge. Throught the story he is trying to learn and he wants to learn which is even more important. i think that knowlegde is his biggest hunger. I also agree with what you said about his experiences with his family. He hungers for comfort and attention, which he gets in a creepy way at the Moss's house.
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