Why You Reckon

Words: 1119
Pages: 5
Open Document
Dramatic Analysis of “Why, You Reckon?”
“Why, You Reckon” written by Langston Hughes, is about one African American roaming the night streets in the freezing cold, hungry as ever and ended up passing another African American just like him and asked him “Say buddy, you wanta make a little jack?” (214) and he said “Sure,” “How?” (214)The other African American replies with a crazy idea of stickin up a guy by seeing the first white guy they see that comes out of the speakeasies and looks likes bucks. Anyone is willing to do anything to get food and money is seen to make happiness in lives.
During the 30’s, is where the Great Depression was ending, but World War II was starting, life got really hard for many people; especially African Americans. …show more content…
The narrator is the first African American walking down 133rd street in the snow being confronted from another African American. We are seeing the first African Americans point of view and what he thinks. On many occasions the narrator used I, we, me, to refer to him and also know an overabundance of information on the other African American and the white fellow, PeeDee McGill, III. We also get information on his thoughts as the short story unfolds, how he feels towards the white fellow, and the other African American. The narrator states “Indeed, I was!” (214) and “…I said alright, and we decided to do it.” (215) are both examples of the African American telling the short story form his own words. In the short story, you can tell the African American was nervous and scared to get caught, but he wanted food. Also, you can tell he had anger built up. However, the African American would not be considered an unreliable source due to the fact he is telling the short story from the past. He is looking back and telling us his point of view. He could forget certain details or make himself not look like the bad guy. “Well, sir, I aint never been mixed up in nothin’ wrong before nor since, and I don’t intend to be again, but I was hongry that night. Indeed I was!’ (214) and “ Depression times before the war plants opened up and money got to circulating again that Second World War had busted out.” (214) are examples of the African American telling us that he is about to tell us a story from the past. By using “nor, since” and “I don’t intend to be again,” show how the African American is using past tense and the story he is about to tell again is from the past, not
Show More

Related Documents: Why You Reckon

English 11B Unit 1 Essay

Saad Abdullah English 11B 2/6/15 “Why, You Reckon?” Literary Analysis In the short story “Why, You Reckon?,” Langston Hughes gives the narrator a unique character in which he is very respectful but easily persuaded. Judging from the story, one can come to a conclusion that the narrator is uneducated and very poor. It can also be seen that he is living on the streets while always searching for a way to survive. He is ready to do anything for some food and that’s why he accepts the offer when the other black guy asks him…

Words 679 - Pages 3

How Does Twain Use Dramatic Irony In Huck Finn

in mourning from this out; and first you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put 'em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it?" (160). The duke is complaining about thieves, which is ironic because essentially he is a thief. Another example would be the boy Huck meets on the road. The boy explains his enthusiasm for the reward for the runaway when he explains, "Well, I reckon There's two hundred dollars reward on…

Words 331 - Pages 2

Calpurnia In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Q: Where do you live? A: I live in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama. Q: Do you have any siblings? A: Yessum, I got an older brother named Jem. He likes to play football and read sports magazines, and he says he wants to be a lawyer, just like my daddy Atticus. Even though we sometimes ain’t getting along I still love him. Q: Who do you respect the most? A: I would say my daddy Atticus. Cause he is very smart and always nice to me and other folks. He taught me and Jem real important stuff like…

Words 1052 - Pages 5

Tom Robinson In To Kill A Mockingbird

multiple brothers and sister who don't care for anyone except themselves. The first time he was invited over the fence she offered to pay him a nickel for his trobles and he refused and said that just helping was enough payment “She said, ‘I reckon I will hafta give you a nickel,…

Words 206 - Pages 1

Mob Mentality In Huckleberry Finn

from the masses. Clearly, many of the individuals in the mob are participating in order to fit in and not because they have individual bravery. Similarly, when Sherburn defies the mob’s wishes, he shouts, “Now leave - and take your half-a-man with you - tossing his gun up across his left arm and cocking it, when he says this. The crowd washed back sudden, and then broke all apart and went tearing off every which way” (Twain 227). This quote displays how weak the mob really was because only one person…

Words 1049 - Pages 5

Belle French Dramatic Monologue

are akin to the ‘forbidden fruit’ of Eden .I desire them, I lust them,but I cannot pursue them. I reckon life here isn’t so bad after all. It is not the same as Belle Reve and surely it’s not that dreadful poker house . However I must admit ,this place does need refurbishing- the curtains are grey and washed out and each room is completely deprived of the personal touch, like a prison cell ,if you will. What more, they appeared to have mislaid my belongings-my precious treasure chest. The one with…

Words 801 - Pages 4

huck finn tone essay 1 1

this Family feuding with a second family, the Shepardsons. After one of the younger Grangerford boys gets into a shooting spat with a Shepardson, Huck asks the boy, “‘Did you want to kill him, Buck?’ ‘Well, I bet I did.’ ‘What did he do to you?’ ‘Him? he never done nothing to me.’ ‘Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?’ ‘Why nothing – only it’s on account of the feud’” (Twain, 81). The details Twain includes construct his bitter, sarcastic tone. Buck has no personal grudge against the Shepardson…

Words 875 - Pages 4

Huckleberry Finn Dialectical Journal

Have you ever seen a “girl” steal before? Well, I have while I was reading a very intriguing book known as The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. The story tells of a young boy by the name of Huckleberry Finn or some may call him, Huck Finn for short; He lives with two wonderful (mean) woman by the name of Miss Watson and The Widow Douglas. They try to civilize him, even though he wants to be a free man. Then he sneaks out the house to be with his best friend Tom Sawyer, who has a very…

Words 1137 - Pages 5

Independent Book Project: The Help by Kathryn Stockett Essays

about the bathroom for the Help. Significant Quotes/Passages: (you must have at least four) 1. “Jesus, I’ve never met a woman with such long arms,” he says. “Well, I’ve never met anybody with such a drinking problem.” “Your coat smells like-” He leans down and sniffs it, grimacing. “Fertilizer.” (Stockett 139). –This passage is significant because it creates the basis of Skeeter and Stuart’s relationship and it foreshadows why he comes in later in the story. 2. “Look,” he says, “don’t say…

Words 440 - Pages 2

Admirable People In To Kill A Mockingbird

Have you ever thought your self-worth was based on your family's social status of your family? Although many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, base their self-worth on the social status of their family of origin, the truth is that the most admirable people in the novel “were people who did the best they could with the sense they had.” The most admirable people in the novel who did the best they could do with the most they have were Tom Robinson, Calpurnia, and Jem. Some…

Words 1882 - Pages 8