Raymond's Run Literary Analysis

“Now that you know, this is my life, I won’t be told what’s supposed to be right.” -Kelly Clarkson, ”Catching my Breath.” These are the words that people like Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, better known as Squeaky, live by. Squeaky, the protagonist in the short story, “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara, learns to “catch her breath” by ridding herself of ridiculous gender stereotypes. While Squeaky generally is a very fierce girl, throughout her life she has always been under her mother's influences, acting the way a girl should be. In “Raymond’s Run,” Squeaky has a strong passion for running, but, she has to mind her disabled brother, Raymond. As a runner, she tries to keep up with an upcoming race while dealing with her mother’s expectations of what a girl should be. However, Squeaky does not give in. Squeaky knows that she is not your typical girl, but, instead of being embarrassed about it, she embraces it. She knows that no one except herself can tell her who she should be. Mk Sharing a common theme, the story …show more content…
Despite the fact that running does not mesh with the stereotypical gender expectations of that time, Squeaky has shown that she does not care, and she is determined to stick to her plan--being herself. Even though it means defying society, along with mother. Another quote from the song “Catch My Breath,” perfectly captures this: “Catch my breath, no one can hold me back / I ain't got time for that”. The lyrics show the singer’s determination to be independent. from others. Similarly, Squeaky shows her independence--she takes her running seriously. She does not care what people think of her. Throughout the story, she has to deal with unrealistic expectations that are pushed onto her. However, she does not let the pressure push her down. She is independent, and all she needs to be is

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