Sing For Your Life Essay

In the novel “Sing for Your Life” by Daniel Bergner, the author uses memories and present day events from Ryan Speedo Green’s life to create a cause-and-effect plot instead of a traditional chronological plot. Bergner sets the novel up in a cause-and-effect structure so the readers can see how the events from Ryan's childhood impact his adult life and choices.

In the novel, the author switches between Ryan’s childhood and adulthood for the purpose of showing how his past struggles affect his future. Bergner shows a flashback to Ryan’s past and then a situation where his present day choices were impacted by it. One way he does this is shown when Ryan visits a prison as an opera singer. Before the story of visiting the prison, the audience is told his tough life in prison. Bergner says that he had a tough time socializing and often spent time alone in isolation. When Ryan returns to the prison as an adult, he is able to relate to the kids especially those who were in similar situations as he was. As he relates to the prisoners, the audience is able to see for themselves how his past experiences …show more content…
Readers see this through Ryan’s challenges as a black man in society. He said that as a teenager he was called an “oreo” by his friends, meaning that although he was black, he acted like he was white. The name calling was considered a joke by his white friends, but an insult from his black friends. Ryan didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. He felt discriminated against by everyone, including his own family. After telling that story, Bergner goes on to tell about a time when Ryan was coaxed into singing a song he hated called “Ol’ Man River” just because he was black. The side-by-side telling of those stories allowed the audience to truly see that Ryan had constantly been discriminated against, far before becoming an opera