Throughout his entire life, Richard Wright has been controlled by the adults surrounding him. He soon learns that he is an individual who is responsible for determining his own development by acts of free consciousness. Through desperation for freedom, Richard learns to cope with the knowledge that only he has the power to determine his entire life. When Richard begins to lose everything, he must find a way to rebuild his life, however, his solution is only possible through an escape created by his existentialist decisions.
His family and environment constantly tear at Richard with their unsustainability, forcing him to become independent. His new life begins when his mother becomes ill, and he must learn to cope with the fact that he now must provide for himself as a minor. “I was more conscious of my mother now than I had ever been and I was already able to feel what being completely without her would mean.” (84) Richard has not always depended on his family, however, any support he previously had (whether it be financial support or family structure) begins to disappear. The most brutal way for him to suffer, is to have all of his support decimated at once. Most people of Richards age are gradually eased into adulthood and its freedoms: learning to drive, going off to school, etc. whereas Richard was quickly thrown into the adult world. This turning point becomes the stereotypical “this is the day my life changed forever.” Richard has his whole life ahead of him, but it is …show more content…
His own decision of his purposeful mindset allowed him to determine his own fate in the world. By enduring the “meaningless suffering,” he found himself questioning any possible solutions for a life determine by his own free will. Richard Wright was always trapped in his own environment, however, he learns to break free by exploring the reckless and existentialist side of
His family and environment constantly tear at Richard with their unsustainability, forcing him to become independent. His new life begins when his mother becomes ill, and he must learn to cope with the fact that he now must provide for himself as a minor. “I was more conscious of my mother now than I had ever been and I was already able to feel what being completely without her would mean.” (84) Richard has not always depended on his family, however, any support he previously had (whether it be financial support or family structure) begins to disappear. The most brutal way for him to suffer, is to have all of his support decimated at once. Most people of Richards age are gradually eased into adulthood and its freedoms: learning to drive, going off to school, etc. whereas Richard was quickly thrown into the adult world. This turning point becomes the stereotypical “this is the day my life changed forever.” Richard has his whole life ahead of him, but it is …show more content…
His own decision of his purposeful mindset allowed him to determine his own fate in the world. By enduring the “meaningless suffering,” he found himself questioning any possible solutions for a life determine by his own free will. Richard Wright was always trapped in his own environment, however, he learns to break free by exploring the reckless and existentialist side of