The Color of Water: Essay Topic 2
James McBride’s The Color of Water, is a memoir written as a tribute to his mother. In this book, McBride tells the readers the story of his childhood and adds a twist to book by also adding the story of his mother’s childhood/life before James. James uses this book to contrast the differences between the generations, he and his mother grew up in. In addition, he expresses his change as a person throughout the plot. For example, he uses his childhood experiences to tell of his transformation from boy to man.
Hunter Jordan was a major influence on James’ childhood. Hunter represented a stable period in his life. To do so, he provided for his family by taking care of Ruth’s 12 children and putting food on the table for them. In addition to having stability, Hunter also was an exemplary role model for all of the children, especially James. Hunter taught the children to be, “easygoing and open-minded,” as James describes it. James considered Hunter to be the only dad, he knew since Dennis died before he was born.
Shortly after Hunter died, things began to go downhill for James. He picked up bad habits like consuming illegal substances, stealing and breaking into places, and doing poorly in school. The cause of James’ massive downfall was a result of his anger towards Hunter dying. His family …show more content…
In Louisville, James hung out with the delinquents and older misfits of the town. They spent their days hanging around the store corner talking, drinking, and laughing about life. This charade continued each day, for every summer that James visited, until a fellow named Chicken Man proceeded one day to tell James the true insights about life. Chicken Man told James of his failures in life and how he ended up on the store corner. Hearing this, James decided to clean up himself and his act and start acting straight in school
James McBride’s The Color of Water, is a memoir written as a tribute to his mother. In this book, McBride tells the readers the story of his childhood and adds a twist to book by also adding the story of his mother’s childhood/life before James. James uses this book to contrast the differences between the generations, he and his mother grew up in. In addition, he expresses his change as a person throughout the plot. For example, he uses his childhood experiences to tell of his transformation from boy to man.
Hunter Jordan was a major influence on James’ childhood. Hunter represented a stable period in his life. To do so, he provided for his family by taking care of Ruth’s 12 children and putting food on the table for them. In addition to having stability, Hunter also was an exemplary role model for all of the children, especially James. Hunter taught the children to be, “easygoing and open-minded,” as James describes it. James considered Hunter to be the only dad, he knew since Dennis died before he was born.
Shortly after Hunter died, things began to go downhill for James. He picked up bad habits like consuming illegal substances, stealing and breaking into places, and doing poorly in school. The cause of James’ massive downfall was a result of his anger towards Hunter dying. His family …show more content…
In Louisville, James hung out with the delinquents and older misfits of the town. They spent their days hanging around the store corner talking, drinking, and laughing about life. This charade continued each day, for every summer that James visited, until a fellow named Chicken Man proceeded one day to tell James the true insights about life. Chicken Man told James of his failures in life and how he ended up on the store corner. Hearing this, James decided to clean up himself and his act and start acting straight in school