Analysis Of Notes Of A Native Son By James Baldwin

In the text, “Notes of A Native Son” by James Baldwin, a story is told about his father’s life and death. The beginning of the essay discussed the day timeframe of when his father passed. This timeframe explained that during that time riots were breaking out in the streets due to injustice in the city of Detroit. The day of his father funeral was also the day that the after effect of the riots were shown. The author explained that driving to the cemetery, you could see broken glass and remnants of struggle in the streets. To the author, this was almost like a slap in his face because at that time, the author did not believe in what he described as an “apocalypse” of injustice and hate.
The story continues but instead of just primary focusing and stopping at his father’s death/funeral, the author continues and describes his father’s life story. Overall, Baldwin loved and adored his father. But it also seemed like his father was bitter about life in general. There was a lot of oppression at that time and that unfortunately built his father’s character and life views. In one sentence, Baldwin described his fear of this realization, “the bitterness which had helped to kill my father could also kill me” (pg. 589). This one …show more content…
In “Wonder Woman” this essay fits the theme of self-struggle. “Wonder Woman” is about the different classifications women are given and how with those classifications they divide against each other. The overall premise of the essay was to open the reader’s eyes into being aware of these labels and to not let them define ourselves. This could be considered an internal struggle because if you have be told for years that you are nothing more than a housewife how are you going to believe that you are equal to women who work? For Baldwin, his obstacle is to not become bitter in a society that is against him, and in “Wonder Women” the battle is to not let society divide