The true nature of humans is often hidden behind deceptively innocent front. The title of Thomas Wolfe’s short story, “The Child by Tiger,” hints at this. The meaning of the title “The Child by Tiger” is developed throughout the story by contrasting characters and the repetition of Dick’s actions. The contrasts within the story show that every man can be both child and tiger. Spangler’s contrast towards Dick outlines one such child by tiger scenario. Spangler is the narrator of the story and has an unreliable point of view. He is a young white boy who lacks prejudice in a very anti-black society; therefore, Spangler is very innocent. Dick on the other hand, is an older black man with an army background who was trained to kill. This is almost
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Dick also contrasts himself from the beginning of the story to the end. In the beginning of the story, Dick is described as a child. He is referred to as “boy” by the white men of the town and looked down upon because of his race. It is revealed that every man hides there tiger when Dick would got into altercation with Lon Everett. When Lon begins to punch Dick, it is noted that his eyes were “shot with red” (Wolfe 629) showing his hidden rage. The killing spree solidifies Dick as the tiger, making the connection of the child’s hidden tiger. While Dick is referred to as the tiger in the story, Spangler’s point of view changes from his earlier beliefs. After the white mob hunts down Dick he begins to contrast the two tigers. The mob is animal-like with their method of hunting. They chase Dick down and even as Dick surrenders, the men light Dick up with every bullet they have and then proceed to hang his body. Dick does his killing methodically and patiently. He is efficient with using only one bullet for each kill as opposed to the mob that essentially fires from the hip. Another major contrast between the two is the color of their skins. Spangler hears of these events by the accounts of other people in the
Dick also contrasts himself from the beginning of the story to the end. In the beginning of the story, Dick is described as a child. He is referred to as “boy” by the white men of the town and looked down upon because of his race. It is revealed that every man hides there tiger when Dick would got into altercation with Lon Everett. When Lon begins to punch Dick, it is noted that his eyes were “shot with red” (Wolfe 629) showing his hidden rage. The killing spree solidifies Dick as the tiger, making the connection of the child’s hidden tiger. While Dick is referred to as the tiger in the story, Spangler’s point of view changes from his earlier beliefs. After the white mob hunts down Dick he begins to contrast the two tigers. The mob is animal-like with their method of hunting. They chase Dick down and even as Dick surrenders, the men light Dick up with every bullet they have and then proceed to hang his body. Dick does his killing methodically and patiently. He is efficient with using only one bullet for each kill as opposed to the mob that essentially fires from the hip. Another major contrast between the two is the color of their skins. Spangler hears of these events by the accounts of other people in the