Hidden among the public, the prominent author Thomas Pynchon is a mystery. However his books are known for being a masterpiece, particularly, the story “Secret Integration”. The story takes place in a town in New York, showing segregation in a northern state. The story is about 5 friends who plays pranks on the PTA. Despite having long descriptions and being confusing at times, the story was great read and the reader could learn from it. Pynchon made the story unique and enjoyable by having the story through a kids perspective, by showing segregation and having a simple hidden theme.
The story is told through the eyes of Tim, an average kid during this time. Being young Tim still has a wild imagination. The first time where the reader sees …show more content…
“and say hello to it each time he came over, … it would be cruel to the house to stop believing in it. So: ‘Hi, house,’ he said, as usual. The house had a face on the end, a pleasant old face, windows for eyes and nose, a face that always seemed to be smiling.” (Pynchon 148) This quote shows that even though Tim was growing up and learning about the world around him, he still has some part of his playfulness left. The fact that Pynchon chose Tim to be on the age shift between when he “named everything” and to when he starting to learn the truth of the world was crucial to the story. If he didn’t then Carl wouldn’t exist and the reader won't learn what is happening and how daily life was changing in Tim’s world. Tim’s understanding of racism is very little and Pynchon tried to make it clear as possible. Pynchon writes, "a racist.’ ‘a what?’ ‘You know this colored servant Tom Swift …The way he treats that guy, it's disgusting. Do they want me to read that stuff so I'll be like that?’ ‘Maybe that's how,’ said Tim, excited, having figured it out all at once, ‘how they want you to be with Carl." (145). This quote shows that Grover has a deep understanding of what racism and slavery was like, while Tim had no clear idea. Tim was “excited” figuring out what Grover was …show more content…
There are many examples of racism in the short story, the first time is when Tim overhears his mom call the Barrington family. "You niggers,’ his mother spat out suddenly, ‘dirty niggers, get out of this town, go back to Pittsfield. Get out before you get in real trouble.’ Then she hung up fast. The hand that was in a fist had been shaking, and now her other hand, once it let go of the receiver, started shaking a little too.” (147) By analyzing this quote, the reader can figure out that Tim’s parents are probably both racist and that eventually that Tim will become like them. The speciality of this quote is that it shows how an average white family was. The story is taking place in the North and still there is lots of racism. Pynchon included this quote to make the story realistic and to show the emotions the whites had for blacks. When Tim and Hogan are visiting Mcafee in the hotel there is a lot of indirect racism. Pynchon writes, “Well, it sounds like it's a nigger up there,’ he informed them. ‘Can we go up?’ Hogan asked. The clerk shrugged. ‘He says he's expecting you. If you have any - you know - trouble, just knock his phone off the hook. See, it'll buzz down here." (169). The clerk was cautious with the black guy and concerned with the fact that he is black instead of worrying that the man is an alcoholic. Also the waiter who brings in the whiskey is racist towards Mcafee by forcing him to pay and not allowing to add it
The story is told through the eyes of Tim, an average kid during this time. Being young Tim still has a wild imagination. The first time where the reader sees …show more content…
“and say hello to it each time he came over, … it would be cruel to the house to stop believing in it. So: ‘Hi, house,’ he said, as usual. The house had a face on the end, a pleasant old face, windows for eyes and nose, a face that always seemed to be smiling.” (Pynchon 148) This quote shows that even though Tim was growing up and learning about the world around him, he still has some part of his playfulness left. The fact that Pynchon chose Tim to be on the age shift between when he “named everything” and to when he starting to learn the truth of the world was crucial to the story. If he didn’t then Carl wouldn’t exist and the reader won't learn what is happening and how daily life was changing in Tim’s world. Tim’s understanding of racism is very little and Pynchon tried to make it clear as possible. Pynchon writes, "a racist.’ ‘a what?’ ‘You know this colored servant Tom Swift …The way he treats that guy, it's disgusting. Do they want me to read that stuff so I'll be like that?’ ‘Maybe that's how,’ said Tim, excited, having figured it out all at once, ‘how they want you to be with Carl." (145). This quote shows that Grover has a deep understanding of what racism and slavery was like, while Tim had no clear idea. Tim was “excited” figuring out what Grover was …show more content…
There are many examples of racism in the short story, the first time is when Tim overhears his mom call the Barrington family. "You niggers,’ his mother spat out suddenly, ‘dirty niggers, get out of this town, go back to Pittsfield. Get out before you get in real trouble.’ Then she hung up fast. The hand that was in a fist had been shaking, and now her other hand, once it let go of the receiver, started shaking a little too.” (147) By analyzing this quote, the reader can figure out that Tim’s parents are probably both racist and that eventually that Tim will become like them. The speciality of this quote is that it shows how an average white family was. The story is taking place in the North and still there is lots of racism. Pynchon included this quote to make the story realistic and to show the emotions the whites had for blacks. When Tim and Hogan are visiting Mcafee in the hotel there is a lot of indirect racism. Pynchon writes, “Well, it sounds like it's a nigger up there,’ he informed them. ‘Can we go up?’ Hogan asked. The clerk shrugged. ‘He says he's expecting you. If you have any - you know - trouble, just knock his phone off the hook. See, it'll buzz down here." (169). The clerk was cautious with the black guy and concerned with the fact that he is black instead of worrying that the man is an alcoholic. Also the waiter who brings in the whiskey is racist towards Mcafee by forcing him to pay and not allowing to add it