The wife of his youth free essay sample

After the civil war, racial issues affect society and Charles Chesnutt a regional realist writer tackles the subject. The difference between black and white, which should logically disappear, increases, and the African American community is experiencing exclusion in some societies. Chesnutt through his text The Wife of his youth refers to the problem by showing the contrast between black and white. He does not hesitate to create a character belonging to the two worlds so that embodies the image of a possible unification. The essay begins by the exclusion accentuated by the Blue Veins, followed by the real role of Mr Ryder and what it represents. Will also be discussed, the arrival of Liza character and the consequences it represents and to finish the regional realist style of Charles Chesnutt will be evoked. Blue veins society appears as the symbol of the exclusion of black people, but also as the social ascension of light skin people. In fact it highlights the difference between black and white and the difficulties faced by African Americans to get a place in society. Perceive the blue vein on the arms of the group members is not a criterion in itself, but it excludes people who have dark skin. Belong to this Society provides a sense of superiority over other people, makes them stronger and more important. We may assume that Chesnutt emphasize the words Among people, their circle and envious outsider (Chesnutt 27) to show that belonging to the group is to belong to a â€Å"better† world. The Blue Veins embodies the symbol of exclusion, as is clearly shown this sentence; no one was eligible for membership who you was not white enough to show Blue veins (Chesnutt 27). The Society encourages clearly the difference between black and white. Through this real fact using black and white people contrast, we recognize the regional realist style of Charles Chesnutt. After the war, people have the desire to move forward and the blue veins is maybe seen by Charles Chesnutt as a step backwards, knowing that one of the aims of this war being to obtain freedom and recognition in society. The fact that Mr Ryder is the head of the Blue Veins society can be seen as a contrast that Chesnutt tries to evidence throughout the text. In fact, although Ryder is a member of this society, he is nonetheless different from others; While he was not as white as some of the Blue Veins his appearance was such as to confer distinction upon them† (Chesnutt 28). In addition, knowing his past and the fact that he was married to a black woman shows that he makes no difference between black and white people. One can assume that Chesnutt presents Mr Ryder as the figure of unification between white and African American. However we note that there is a contrast between his past and his future. He plans to get married with Mrs Dixon, who is his opposite at every level; she was whiter than he, and better educated (Chesnutt 28) She was much younger than he (Chesnutt 28). While he is different from others, but he must act like them because he represents the society, so you can interpret his desire to marry Mrs Dixon as a desire to confirm his membership in Blue Veins. Also, Mrs Dixon is presented as the whitest woman in the group and in comparison to Liza we find the contrast that Chesnutt developed throughout his text. Mrs Ryder represents the spirit of change and unification but he acts at odds with his thoughts. The arrival of Liza Jane marks the change in Blue Veins. As a member and leader of society Mr Ryder is constantly seeking their approval. Before the return of Liza, he obtained a degree of legitimacy within the group and was exactly like the others. At the end of this story, it is a dilemma; or he chooses the society and at the same time Mrs Dixon, or he runs the risk of presenting the black woman to the society of white people. Even if he is loyal and takes his responsibilities toward his wife, he needs the opinion of the members during the party. So the guests become witnesses and take part in the story. Mr Ryder tells the story as an exterior character, we can note the use of the pronoun he throughout its history. He raises many questions to guests to make sure they understand the situation and that they approve of his decision; Suppose That he was young, and she much older than he, that she was light, and she was black (Chesnutt 35), Suppose, too, that he made his way to the North (Chesnutt 35). He does not seek to prolong the suspense, but to test and measure the reaction of the members. This attitude shows that despite his loyalty to his wife, he is none the less attached to his current status. He unveils the truth when he feels that the members approve the eventual choice; And now, ladies and gentlemen, friends and companions, I ask you, what he should have done? (Chesnutt 36). Presumably Chesnutt put his character in a dilemma in order to show that unification is possible because at the end members share the opinion of Ryder knowing that Liza is black. This is more than an approval; it is a step forward. Charles Chesnutt uses some specific techniques of regional realist. First, he plays with the tone of his characters by using the regional dialect, but he describes some real facts, as in many others of his writings. For example in The Goophered Grape Vine (26), the narrator is an old black and the story is written in African American dialect. In The Wife of his youth, the realist is marked by racial issues raised by Charles Chesnutt, it is a real problem faced by the people of his time. He plays with the contrast between black and white. More he plays with the tone of Liza, for example, I s ben lookin fer im eber sence (Chesnutt32). Through her tone, we can say that she is humble, simple and she shows a real sincerity. But some things seem unrealistic. The fact that the woman has waited and looking for her husband during all this time seems unrealistic because even if she is faithful to him, it is something difficult to conceive in todays society. In addition, the story has a romantic side because ultimately everything ends well, but the fact that he renounces all for the love of an old woman shows his loyalty towards her, but seems a bit unrealistic. Chesnutt describes a real fact perhaps in order to change things, to challenge racial problems through this story. Charles Chesnutt uses this story to raise an issue that affects the society of his time. The fact that the main character is a white married previously to a black woman is not a coincidence. Its a way to show that cohabitation, unification between black and white is possible. Mr Ryder represents the figure of change, progress; he represents the world, which aspires Charles Chesnutt and many African Americans in that era.