Richard often defies authority figures throughout the story. One of which is when he gives his own speech instead of the professor’s during his graduation. The professor was just trying to keep Richard from looking like a fool in front of all of his fellow students and their families, but Richard didn't care. Richard wanted to give his own speech and didn't mind what the professor or anyone else thinks. "Professor, I'm going to write my own speech" (Wright 175). The professor even threatens him, and tells him that he won't graduate if he doesn't give the professor's speech, but it doesn't even bother Richard. Richard refuses to give the professor’s speech, and in the end he ends up giving his own speech to his fellow classmates. Another
