Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Chesnutt Goophered Grapevine
When I first read this short story I was completely shocked and in awe that a white-american could write something like this. It was also very difficult to read and I had to re-read certain paragraphs to fully understand what was trying to be said by the character. I don't unerstand how a writer could write the the way he does and not offend anyone, even if it was written during the time of slavery. Chesnutt was trying to be as original as possible in the way he narrates this novel but I believe he goes over the top trying to fit into the stereotypical language for slaves. This was very difficult to read and I still don't fully understand what is trying to be said.
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Harry,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this short story inparticular was shocking. I'm glad for the author's sake that he wrote it as a piece of fiction to at least subdue some of the anger that might later arise after the Civil War and equal rights. I do agree that the stereotypical language was somewhat ridiculous and over the top. Luckily, I was able to actually follow the story and understand what was going on for the most part. I do believe Chesnutt wrote this fictional piece to appeal to the southern masses/population. Unfortunately, at the time, more whites were able to read than African Americans. I feel as if he wrote the short story based on the white man, his surroundings and settings, and where people truly stereotyped and treated slaves this badly.
I agree that the language is very shocking and offensive. But, when I think of that video we watched in class I am not surprised. The language used is what people expected then.The Civil War ended in 1865 and the story was written in 1887, so slavery had been abolished. I think that Chesnutt was writing the way he had to. In class we discussed that after he wrote the Sheriff's Children, people were angry and wanted him to write stories like "The Goophered Grapevine."
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