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The Man Who Was Almost A Man By Richard Wright

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Arguably one of the most important moments in a man’s life is when he realizes he is no longer a boy. Often times this evolution in social status occurs without deliberate attempt. In the literary work entitled, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”, Richard Wright outlines a story about a young boy named Dave, who struggles with his own perception of manhood. Throughout this story Dave wrestles with the societal concept of hegemonic masculinity and tries to force his way into manhood. Hegemonic masculinity, a potentially unfamiliar concept, is an idea that states there exists a social hierarchy in which men possess the dominant position in society, and women as well as submissive men are marginalized (“Hegemonic Masculinity”). Dave, as depicted …show more content…

After some time passes, Dave decides to dedicate a portion of his time at work to practicing his gun shooting. During his practice time Dave accidentally shoots a mule named Jenny, which leads to Dave being publicly shamed by Jim Hawkins, the members in the community, and his parents. Due to all of these events, Dave ponders the value of his existence, his manhood, and his masculinity. Subsequently, Dave decides to leave his home by impulsively jumping on a train passing through his town, thus leaving his old life behind and beginning a new one. “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” concludes with Dave riding off into the distance with the intention of finding a place where in his opinion he can become a man. This short story is both an illustration of a boy attempting to become a man, and a depiction of an individual doing his best to overcome the restrictions within a hegemonic society. According to Anthony Lemelle in “Black Masculinity and Sexual Politics”, hegemonic masculinity from a relational standpoint is a “dynamic power that men deploy in structural interactions functioning to legitimize patriarchal relations and guarantees inequality of both men and women – it [hegemonic masculinity] must result in the subordination of both the ‘other’ men and women” (Lemelle 13). Within “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” there is a clearly defined social structure amongst the characters in this story. At the top of the hierarchy lies Joe, Jim Hawkins and Dave’s father; these are

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