African American Men Ready for War
Dutchman refers to the old folk tale of the Flying Dutchman or what is known as Fleiger Hollander in Dutch (Jacques 7). This tale speaks of a flying ghost ship that never reaches a destination and sails the ocean forever. In Amiri Baraka’s “Dutchman”, he uses this close analogy to refer to the eerie feeling that readers gain from being taken on a journey while aboard this train. African American men are at battle daily, which also gives one the eerie feeling of being on a battlefield. It is this reason that Amiri Baraka decides to bring this serious subject matter to the forefront. This story examines how New Historicism has evolved. African American men are categorized as being a “type” and throughout the story, the writer is able to make readers see how certain situations can have a monopoly effect that overall can lead to destruction. Amiri Baraka depicts Clay as being a …show more content…
Based on this analysis alone, one can see how common it is for blacks to fight against each other. Towards the end of the play, after Lula stabs Clay and has people do away with his remains, the Conductor of the train finally appears. What makes this part of the play eerie is the fact that the conductor already knows what has happened and continues to converse with Lula as if everything was alright. The conductor mumbles songs and dances with Lula, demonstrating yet again another stereotype of Blacks dancing and singing to music. This shows that African American men are at war with themselves and their own race because it was as if the entire train ride was a set up for the conductor and Lula, the “white woman”, to continue the oppression for black males trying to become a successful part of society. Because the conductor was the typical black man who danced and fell into the categories that Lula deemed acceptable as an African American male, she could accept him rather than
Dutchman refers to the old folk tale of the Flying Dutchman or what is known as Fleiger Hollander in Dutch (Jacques 7). This tale speaks of a flying ghost ship that never reaches a destination and sails the ocean forever. In Amiri Baraka’s “Dutchman”, he uses this close analogy to refer to the eerie feeling that readers gain from being taken on a journey while aboard this train. African American men are at battle daily, which also gives one the eerie feeling of being on a battlefield. It is this reason that Amiri Baraka decides to bring this serious subject matter to the forefront. This story examines how New Historicism has evolved. African American men are categorized as being a “type” and throughout the story, the writer is able to make readers see how certain situations can have a monopoly effect that overall can lead to destruction. Amiri Baraka depicts Clay as being a …show more content…
Based on this analysis alone, one can see how common it is for blacks to fight against each other. Towards the end of the play, after Lula stabs Clay and has people do away with his remains, the Conductor of the train finally appears. What makes this part of the play eerie is the fact that the conductor already knows what has happened and continues to converse with Lula as if everything was alright. The conductor mumbles songs and dances with Lula, demonstrating yet again another stereotype of Blacks dancing and singing to music. This shows that African American men are at war with themselves and their own race because it was as if the entire train ride was a set up for the conductor and Lula, the “white woman”, to continue the oppression for black males trying to become a successful part of society. Because the conductor was the typical black man who danced and fell into the categories that Lula deemed acceptable as an African American male, she could accept him rather than