Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The novel is set during WWII.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Ambitious, optimistic, moving
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Robert Jones
Major Conflict
The main conflict is when Jones is demoted at work after losing his temper to a white woman who fails to heed his commands.
Climax
The climax is when Jones meets Alice, with who he falls in love. Alice makes Jones go back to confess to the racist remarks.
Foreshadowing
Madge's behavior foreshadowed John's intention to murder all racists that came his way.
Understatement
Racism is understated in the text. Despite making racist remarks towards Jones, Madge wants to take advantage of him to sex him by force. Jones runs away.
Allusions
The story alludes to racism and its impact on African Americans.
Imagery
The imagery of racism in the entire text helps readers see what African Americans go through in the hands of the whites. The life of Jones is a true manifestation of what racism does because it forces black people into oppressive conditions.
Paradox
The major irony in the text is that white females mistreat black males sexually. For instance, Madge wants to have sex with Jones by force.
Parallelism
The black people’s lifestyle parallels the perception of the whites towards them.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Racism is personified as a human degrader.
