The main character, Peter, in Previous Condition by James Baldwin struggles with his identity. He fails to fit in with the the black community in Harlem, with the actor community because of his race, and he can’t seem to connect with his friends who are white, they often trivialize his experiences.His vagrant identity is symbolized with his physical inability to find a place to live.
Peter is a struggling actor who has just moved back to New York after wrapping up a project.He has delayed finding another job outside of acting however he struggles to maintain and find new jobs because of his race. After speaking of his lack of initiative with job hunting he says “Acting's a rough life,even if you’re white…and I’m not white;so even at the best …show more content…
Their race creates an automatic social barrier and it becomes apparent in the comments they make during conversation. Peter and his lover, Ida are driving through a ghetto in upstate New York when she remarks on the poor conditions of the neighborhood and wonders who lives in the community,when Peter tells her it is most likely black people she says,“D’you know you’re becoming paranoiac,Peter?”(5).Instead of her recognizing the racial inequalities in America and thinking about what that means to him specifically as a black man she simply dismisses his attitude a paranoia.It is not only offensive but devalues his opinion and thoughts as a person.Again his problems are trivialized when he turns to his friends Jules as a person to vent his fustrations.He remarks,”I know you think I’mmaking it dramatic,that I’ma paranoiac and just inventing trouble!”(9), he recognizes his reactions to his feelings and internalizes the message that his feelings are less than. Even after he says that his friend continues to trivialize his experiencing saying “take a walk,get drunk,we’re all in this together”(9). Like Ida, Jules does not take a moment to acknowledge his friend’s frustration. The advice that he gives Peter is rather dismissive, him being Jewish doesn’t help him understand Peter ,in fact him being a white male further alienates Peter.Without having his friends to properly turn to his feelings fester into rag,which he expresses several times throughout the
Peter is a struggling actor who has just moved back to New York after wrapping up a project.He has delayed finding another job outside of acting however he struggles to maintain and find new jobs because of his race. After speaking of his lack of initiative with job hunting he says “Acting's a rough life,even if you’re white…and I’m not white;so even at the best …show more content…
Their race creates an automatic social barrier and it becomes apparent in the comments they make during conversation. Peter and his lover, Ida are driving through a ghetto in upstate New York when she remarks on the poor conditions of the neighborhood and wonders who lives in the community,when Peter tells her it is most likely black people she says,“D’you know you’re becoming paranoiac,Peter?”(5).Instead of her recognizing the racial inequalities in America and thinking about what that means to him specifically as a black man she simply dismisses his attitude a paranoia.It is not only offensive but devalues his opinion and thoughts as a person.Again his problems are trivialized when he turns to his friends Jules as a person to vent his fustrations.He remarks,”I know you think I’mmaking it dramatic,that I’ma paranoiac and just inventing trouble!”(9), he recognizes his reactions to his feelings and internalizes the message that his feelings are less than. Even after he says that his friend continues to trivialize his experiencing saying “take a walk,get drunk,we’re all in this together”(9). Like Ida, Jules does not take a moment to acknowledge his friend’s frustration. The advice that he gives Peter is rather dismissive, him being Jewish doesn’t help him understand Peter ,in fact him being a white male further alienates Peter.Without having his friends to properly turn to his feelings fester into rag,which he expresses several times throughout the