Easy masculinity definition and how different characters fulfill it
In the nineteenth century, a man is defined as educated, fearless, and head of a household. Most of them were expected to go to war, fight and prove their masculinity. These characteristics of a man were described in Walter Mosley’s Devil in a Blue Dress main character- Easy Rawlins. Easy Rawlins considers himself as a man, he defines himself as a veteran, and a proud property owner. He believes that males should fulfill their expectations in order to become men. Most male characters in the story are all properties owner, tough, and have an important position in the society, which fulfill Easy’s definition of a man. Easy Rawlins is a 19th African- American man in L.A. …show more content…
Joppy is an example of a man with a property: “I was jealous of his success. He [Joppy] had his own business; he owned something”(Mosley 53). Although Joppy only owns a small bar, but Easy looks up to Joppy because Joppy has his own business, he can make money out of his business, and so he has the control over his own life. This characteristic of a man is a very important one because it earns respect for a man. Joppy earned respect from his “white butcher boss” and that’s the respect that Easy wants for himself and expects in a man. However, Joppy is not the only property owner, but Easy’s boss at Champion- Benito Giacomo- is also a property owner. But besides owning a property, Giacomo is also full of pride: “‘Well, you know that when you fire somebody you have to stick to your guns. The men might get to thinkin’ that I’m weak if I take you back’” (Mosley 111). Similar to Easy, Giacomo is a tough man that has self-esteem. He knows people will think that he is weak, that’s why in order to be a powerful boss that he is, Giacomo has to be a decisive man. Because Giacomo is decisive, he is considered a tough man, and although Easy doesn’t like him Easy still respect him because he is truly a man. Another tough property owner is Ernie. Equally important to that, Ernie has a position in society: “You had to be tough to …show more content…
These characteristics make them the representative of nineteenth-century males. Masculinity is very important to them because other characters who don’t fulfill Easy definition of a man are usually considered weak and look down upon. An example of this is Todd Carter: “I began to see him as some strange being. Like a baby who grows to man-size” (Mosley 166). Although Todd Carter is rich and powerful, Easy doesn’t see him as a man. He looks down on Carter because Carter expresses all of his feelings to him. In Easy eyes, Carter seems like a child inside of a man. Compare to other males characters, Carter is obviously is a less masculine character. If other male characters earn Easy respect with their masculinity, Carter doesn’t. That’s why masculinity is so important for a man and most male characters try to fulfill
In the nineteenth century, a man is defined as educated, fearless, and head of a household. Most of them were expected to go to war, fight and prove their masculinity. These characteristics of a man were described in Walter Mosley’s Devil in a Blue Dress main character- Easy Rawlins. Easy Rawlins considers himself as a man, he defines himself as a veteran, and a proud property owner. He believes that males should fulfill their expectations in order to become men. Most male characters in the story are all properties owner, tough, and have an important position in the society, which fulfill Easy’s definition of a man. Easy Rawlins is a 19th African- American man in L.A. …show more content…
Joppy is an example of a man with a property: “I was jealous of his success. He [Joppy] had his own business; he owned something”(Mosley 53). Although Joppy only owns a small bar, but Easy looks up to Joppy because Joppy has his own business, he can make money out of his business, and so he has the control over his own life. This characteristic of a man is a very important one because it earns respect for a man. Joppy earned respect from his “white butcher boss” and that’s the respect that Easy wants for himself and expects in a man. However, Joppy is not the only property owner, but Easy’s boss at Champion- Benito Giacomo- is also a property owner. But besides owning a property, Giacomo is also full of pride: “‘Well, you know that when you fire somebody you have to stick to your guns. The men might get to thinkin’ that I’m weak if I take you back’” (Mosley 111). Similar to Easy, Giacomo is a tough man that has self-esteem. He knows people will think that he is weak, that’s why in order to be a powerful boss that he is, Giacomo has to be a decisive man. Because Giacomo is decisive, he is considered a tough man, and although Easy doesn’t like him Easy still respect him because he is truly a man. Another tough property owner is Ernie. Equally important to that, Ernie has a position in society: “You had to be tough to …show more content…
These characteristics make them the representative of nineteenth-century males. Masculinity is very important to them because other characters who don’t fulfill Easy definition of a man are usually considered weak and look down upon. An example of this is Todd Carter: “I began to see him as some strange being. Like a baby who grows to man-size” (Mosley 166). Although Todd Carter is rich and powerful, Easy doesn’t see him as a man. He looks down on Carter because Carter expresses all of his feelings to him. In Easy eyes, Carter seems like a child inside of a man. Compare to other males characters, Carter is obviously is a less masculine character. If other male characters earn Easy respect with their masculinity, Carter doesn’t. That’s why masculinity is so important for a man and most male characters try to fulfill