Analysis Of Cynthia M. Duncan's Worlds Apart

The uniqueness of the human character is one fascinating puzzle, riddled with pieces both ordinary and peculiar, which come together to form the complete picture. Some will say these characteristics of our being are innate, borrowed from our predecessors, while some will argue that we are the product of our upbringing and the environment in which we live. It was a wise man who said the truth is always somewhere in between, however, that wise man did not take into account the extraordinary compounding effect of various overt discriminating factors relating to race, gender, and socio-economic status impacting Caroline. The story told in the excerpt from Worlds Apart by Cynthia M. Duncan portrays a black single mother of five from Southern USA named Caroline, and through Caroline’s eyes and her life experiences, offers a snapshot into an invisible world that is black rural poor (Duncan, 1999). Duncan converts statistics and research into a narrative, juxtaposing analysis with quotes from Caroline’s interview, preserving the distinct makeup of the country speech, and through this juxtaposition brings …show more content…
Caroline, despite her lack of education, and naivety relating to the big world out there, realizes importance of structure, chores, and responsibilities when it comes to her own children. In her, perhaps limited way, she educates her daughter, and other children, about things her own mother did not tell her. In telling her children “I don’t want you thinking this life is ok,” she is attempting to guide them to realization that the life she leads is not the norm, and it is not one they should aspire to have. Rather, Caroline tells her kids to go to school and do what they wish to do, something no one ever advocated for her. Through this, Caroline tells us her life and lifestyle is not her choice, rather it is product of her personal circumstances, oppressive environment, and societal