Introduction
Mildred Taylor’s novel Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry is a chilling tail engulfed in the issues that plagued the South during the early 20th century. The topics surrounding this time period range from poverty to racism, and the book even explore the ethical and moral duties of a human being when faced with adversity. Cassie, the narrator and protagonist of the novel, is a child in mind and heart when the novel begins. This essay will analyze and explore her metamorphosis into the forefront of adulthood through the author’s use of characterization, symbolism and heavy thematic elements.
Characterization
Cassie’s role as narrator serves a very concrete purpose for Taylor throughout the book. Because we are able to see things from her …show more content…
5). Furthermore, she “hated the dress” (p.5). There are not many cues as strong as these two that indicate a child’s disdain for the norms of everyday life. Cassie’s naiveté is well established by the end of the chapter as she defends her brother at school later that day. Little Man, clearly angered by the reference inside his dusty old school book (p. 24), gets himself into trouble by making a scene to display his disgust. The defense brought by Cassie is noble and indicative of their family’s loyalty, but what happens after the incident is of greater value to the reader. Cassie “shook her head, realizing that Miss Crocker…had understood nothing” (p. 27). The genius behind this passage is two-fold: first, Taylor is asking us to rationally and emotionally empathize with the injustice of racism occurring within the scene. That is the first and most obvious intent of the author. The second layer is where the brilliance lies: Cassie’s realization was the perfect exposition of her innocence. In “realizing” that Miss Crocker “understood nothing,” she was failing to make the connection that for Miss Crocker the term “nigra” was perfectly appropriate and necessary. In fact, …show more content…
31) her plight to the more intangible and abstract conclusion “that this was one of those known and unknown things” (p. 274) is not an accidental incidence. Knowledge then becomes the crux upon which Cassie’s growth hinges. Early in the novel, her Mother, Father, and Stacey, would always truncate their explanations and attempt to shield Cassie from harsh truths or atrocities. Her development comes from wonder, as she eaves drops on her Mom and Miss Crocker (p. 28-31), and from her incessant eagerness to know details surrounding whatever happens when she is not present. The latter is best summed up in her own words: “Now I wanna know everything happened after I left” (p. 271). Stacey then “sighed” and summarized the series of events for her. There comes a point when the sharing of information with a younger sibling becomes an acceptance of the fact that they are your peer. As Stacey brings Cassie into the fold, the reader is lead to believe that Cassie is has come to leave a part of her childhood behind, and is grappling with the heavy information. Cassie’s accumulation of knowledge becomes an indicator of her newfound place within the family hierarchy, and ultimately, the
Mildred Taylor’s novel Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry is a chilling tail engulfed in the issues that plagued the South during the early 20th century. The topics surrounding this time period range from poverty to racism, and the book even explore the ethical and moral duties of a human being when faced with adversity. Cassie, the narrator and protagonist of the novel, is a child in mind and heart when the novel begins. This essay will analyze and explore her metamorphosis into the forefront of adulthood through the author’s use of characterization, symbolism and heavy thematic elements.
Characterization
Cassie’s role as narrator serves a very concrete purpose for Taylor throughout the book. Because we are able to see things from her …show more content…
5). Furthermore, she “hated the dress” (p.5). There are not many cues as strong as these two that indicate a child’s disdain for the norms of everyday life. Cassie’s naiveté is well established by the end of the chapter as she defends her brother at school later that day. Little Man, clearly angered by the reference inside his dusty old school book (p. 24), gets himself into trouble by making a scene to display his disgust. The defense brought by Cassie is noble and indicative of their family’s loyalty, but what happens after the incident is of greater value to the reader. Cassie “shook her head, realizing that Miss Crocker…had understood nothing” (p. 27). The genius behind this passage is two-fold: first, Taylor is asking us to rationally and emotionally empathize with the injustice of racism occurring within the scene. That is the first and most obvious intent of the author. The second layer is where the brilliance lies: Cassie’s realization was the perfect exposition of her innocence. In “realizing” that Miss Crocker “understood nothing,” she was failing to make the connection that for Miss Crocker the term “nigra” was perfectly appropriate and necessary. In fact, …show more content…
31) her plight to the more intangible and abstract conclusion “that this was one of those known and unknown things” (p. 274) is not an accidental incidence. Knowledge then becomes the crux upon which Cassie’s growth hinges. Early in the novel, her Mother, Father, and Stacey, would always truncate their explanations and attempt to shield Cassie from harsh truths or atrocities. Her development comes from wonder, as she eaves drops on her Mom and Miss Crocker (p. 28-31), and from her incessant eagerness to know details surrounding whatever happens when she is not present. The latter is best summed up in her own words: “Now I wanna know everything happened after I left” (p. 271). Stacey then “sighed” and summarized the series of events for her. There comes a point when the sharing of information with a younger sibling becomes an acceptance of the fact that they are your peer. As Stacey brings Cassie into the fold, the reader is lead to believe that Cassie is has come to leave a part of her childhood behind, and is grappling with the heavy information. Cassie’s accumulation of knowledge becomes an indicator of her newfound place within the family hierarchy, and ultimately, the