In the short stories, “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” and “Of the Coming of John”, the authors focus specifically on the lives of the two main characters, but also shift the focus onto the two supporting characters, Steadman and White John. These two supporting characters are in the story to show the opposites and differences between the main characters and themselves. Steadman arrives in Kentucky to help Thompson by illustrating for his article, and they go to the derby to find inspiration for their article and pictures. Thompson knows how hectic the derby can be considering he is from Kentucky, whereas Steadman is from England and has never attended the Kentucky Derby before, let alone even been in Kentucky. White John lives
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White John is treated differently by his peers, than the main character, Black John. White John is far more privileged than Black John, and it is noticed. The author describes White John and his family and says, “Up at the Judge’s they rather liked this refrain; for they too had a John–a fair-haired, smooth-faced boy, who had played many a long summer’s day to its close with his darker namesake” (Du Bois 164). The author is pointing out the obvious physical differences between White John and Black John. This does not only show that he looks different than Black John, but also he has a completely different lifestyle. His father is the judge and this gives him an upper hand in life. Then a short while later the Judge and is eating dinner, and Black John’s sister is one of his waitresses. The judge decided to talk to Black John’s sister about the boys going to college, and he mentioned that college would “make a man out of him”, referring to his own son, White John. Whereas, when he speaks of Black John and college he says, “Too bad, too bad your mother sent him off,–it will spoil him” (Judge 164) Both characters are going away to college, but not everyone reacts the same way when they hear the news. The reaction Black John obtains is what any black male during this period in time would receive in the south, people do not …show more content…
By the end of the story Thompson completely retreats back to his old southern ways and loathes Steadman because of where he comes from and how he acts. He says, “Bug off, you worthless faggot! You twisted pigfucker! If I weren’t sick I’d kick your ass all the way to Bowling Green--you scumsucking foreign geek. Mace is too good for you… We can do without your kind in Kentucky” (Thompson). Thompson’s personality has taken a drastic turn for the worst by the end of the story, he is so disgusted by Steadman, because of his actions and Steadman does not understand. Steadman just tried to finish his job of illustrating for Thompson’s article and did not expect to be kicked out as the result of his trip. This shows that Thompson was always a obnoxious southerner at heart and not like Steadman at all. Like Thompson Black John ultimately does something that changes his future forever. To antagonize Black John, White John purposely goes out of his way to flirt with Jennie, Black John’s sister. On Black John’s way home he sees this and ends up killing White John. The author describes it like, “He said not a word, but, seizing a fallen limb, struck him with all the pent-up hatred of his great black arm; and the body lay white and still beneath the pines, all bathed in sunshine and in blood. John looked
White John is treated differently by his peers, than the main character, Black John. White John is far more privileged than Black John, and it is noticed. The author describes White John and his family and says, “Up at the Judge’s they rather liked this refrain; for they too had a John–a fair-haired, smooth-faced boy, who had played many a long summer’s day to its close with his darker namesake” (Du Bois 164). The author is pointing out the obvious physical differences between White John and Black John. This does not only show that he looks different than Black John, but also he has a completely different lifestyle. His father is the judge and this gives him an upper hand in life. Then a short while later the Judge and is eating dinner, and Black John’s sister is one of his waitresses. The judge decided to talk to Black John’s sister about the boys going to college, and he mentioned that college would “make a man out of him”, referring to his own son, White John. Whereas, when he speaks of Black John and college he says, “Too bad, too bad your mother sent him off,–it will spoil him” (Judge 164) Both characters are going away to college, but not everyone reacts the same way when they hear the news. The reaction Black John obtains is what any black male during this period in time would receive in the south, people do not …show more content…
By the end of the story Thompson completely retreats back to his old southern ways and loathes Steadman because of where he comes from and how he acts. He says, “Bug off, you worthless faggot! You twisted pigfucker! If I weren’t sick I’d kick your ass all the way to Bowling Green--you scumsucking foreign geek. Mace is too good for you… We can do without your kind in Kentucky” (Thompson). Thompson’s personality has taken a drastic turn for the worst by the end of the story, he is so disgusted by Steadman, because of his actions and Steadman does not understand. Steadman just tried to finish his job of illustrating for Thompson’s article and did not expect to be kicked out as the result of his trip. This shows that Thompson was always a obnoxious southerner at heart and not like Steadman at all. Like Thompson Black John ultimately does something that changes his future forever. To antagonize Black John, White John purposely goes out of his way to flirt with Jennie, Black John’s sister. On Black John’s way home he sees this and ends up killing White John. The author describes it like, “He said not a word, but, seizing a fallen limb, struck him with all the pent-up hatred of his great black arm; and the body lay white and still beneath the pines, all bathed in sunshine and in blood. John looked