“The Rockpile” by James Baldwin centers on the adventure of two young brothers, John and Roy, in a Depression-era Harlem, New York. The main plot device, as the title would suggest, is a rockpile that John and Roy are forbidden from playing near.
Although John and Roy are first introduced as brothers, it is quickly revealed that John, the older of the two boys, is the unlawful son of Elizabeth Grimes, the boy 's mother. In the story, Roy is described as the troublesome, younger brother of John. John, the protagonist of the story, is constantly portrayed as being isolated from the rest of the Grimes family due to the fact that he is adopted. Elizabeth Grimes is the mother of John and Roy, with John being born out of wedlock with another man. …show more content…
Throughout the duration of the story, there is a pronounced sense that John, the only non Grime in the family by blood, is segregated from the rest of the family due to the fact that he is different, foreign. John, when compared to Roy, is a much better child overall. He is well behaved, polite, and follows his parents directions. While Roy is disrespectful, rude, and quite problematic. What reinforces these themes is that John is treated in the polar opposite way that one would come to expect from a well behaved child. Roy actively goes against his mother’s instruction to not go to the rockpile, and when he is injured, John is questioned and blamed for Roy’s poor actions. Roy’s disregard for the rules is completely ignored by both Elizabeth and Gabriel, with the negative light shined entirely on John. “Why didn’t you tell me he was downstairs?” (Baldwin 476) John’s mother asks him. Favoritism is not the only theme present however. Both the themes of alienation and negate show strong ties to the stories underlying meanings. Near the end of the piece, Gabriel, John’s stepfather and Roy’s biological father, comes home and is incredibly upset that Roy is hurt. His first question is not for Roy, but is instead to Elizabeth and John. Gabriel attacks the two with hate filled statements and questions, completely ignoring the fact that neither Elizabeth nor John played any role in the …show more content…
The story ends with John picking up his father 's lunchbox off the floor, bending his dark head near the toe of his father’s heavy shoe. This ending is different from many stories in that it allows the reader to come to their own conclusion about what took place next. It gives the reader a chance to look back on what they just read and decide how they want the story to end.
“The Rockpile” gives family life during the Great Depression Era an interesting and unique perspective. It shows that even in a time of great widespread suffrage, there will still be families that do not get along. It gives the reader a glimpse into the life of someone who is different, isolated, mis-treated. It truly shows how far we have come as a society, but how little gratitude we have.
James Baldwin wrote “The Rockpile” to address the issues of isolation and abuse not just in blended families, but in traditional nuclear family as well. The story takes place in Harlem, where James is from, and is loosely based on events and people from his own life. Baldwin is able to convey emotion so well in this story because he experienced it for himself first hand. He wrote this story not as much for others to read, but for himself, to help cope with his emotional past. And while many of us might not be able to relate to what John is feeling in the story, the least we can do is listen to
Although John and Roy are first introduced as brothers, it is quickly revealed that John, the older of the two boys, is the unlawful son of Elizabeth Grimes, the boy 's mother. In the story, Roy is described as the troublesome, younger brother of John. John, the protagonist of the story, is constantly portrayed as being isolated from the rest of the Grimes family due to the fact that he is adopted. Elizabeth Grimes is the mother of John and Roy, with John being born out of wedlock with another man. …show more content…
Throughout the duration of the story, there is a pronounced sense that John, the only non Grime in the family by blood, is segregated from the rest of the family due to the fact that he is different, foreign. John, when compared to Roy, is a much better child overall. He is well behaved, polite, and follows his parents directions. While Roy is disrespectful, rude, and quite problematic. What reinforces these themes is that John is treated in the polar opposite way that one would come to expect from a well behaved child. Roy actively goes against his mother’s instruction to not go to the rockpile, and when he is injured, John is questioned and blamed for Roy’s poor actions. Roy’s disregard for the rules is completely ignored by both Elizabeth and Gabriel, with the negative light shined entirely on John. “Why didn’t you tell me he was downstairs?” (Baldwin 476) John’s mother asks him. Favoritism is not the only theme present however. Both the themes of alienation and negate show strong ties to the stories underlying meanings. Near the end of the piece, Gabriel, John’s stepfather and Roy’s biological father, comes home and is incredibly upset that Roy is hurt. His first question is not for Roy, but is instead to Elizabeth and John. Gabriel attacks the two with hate filled statements and questions, completely ignoring the fact that neither Elizabeth nor John played any role in the …show more content…
The story ends with John picking up his father 's lunchbox off the floor, bending his dark head near the toe of his father’s heavy shoe. This ending is different from many stories in that it allows the reader to come to their own conclusion about what took place next. It gives the reader a chance to look back on what they just read and decide how they want the story to end.
“The Rockpile” gives family life during the Great Depression Era an interesting and unique perspective. It shows that even in a time of great widespread suffrage, there will still be families that do not get along. It gives the reader a glimpse into the life of someone who is different, isolated, mis-treated. It truly shows how far we have come as a society, but how little gratitude we have.
James Baldwin wrote “The Rockpile” to address the issues of isolation and abuse not just in blended families, but in traditional nuclear family as well. The story takes place in Harlem, where James is from, and is loosely based on events and people from his own life. Baldwin is able to convey emotion so well in this story because he experienced it for himself first hand. He wrote this story not as much for others to read, but for himself, to help cope with his emotional past. And while many of us might not be able to relate to what John is feeling in the story, the least we can do is listen to