Big Boy Leaves Home

"Big Boy Leaves Home"

What is the irony and significance of "Big Boy Leaves Home," that Richard Wright displays? In the novel, Richard Wright specifically compares it to the "The Ethics of Jim Crow." He portrays his own self-experiences of his life. As a child, he learned that green yards are symbols of white people that he should fear. He learned the hard way by playing a war game with a gang of children that lead him to get beaten with broken bottles by whites.

Then, Wright worked as a bellboy in a hotel, used by white prostitutes plying their trade. He was aware of the whites sleeping with the maids, but if he attempted to look or got caught looking; he would be punished. One night, he was forced to say that he liked a white man hitting a young woman on the butt; even though, he didn't think it was polite. Richard encountered and learned the education of Jim Crow and reiterated it in his novel, Uncle Tom's Children; but more specifically, "Big Boy Leaves Home."

The several issues that he addressed that coherence with the Ethics of Jim Crow were instilled in his main character Big Boy. Big Boy was the hero of the story through allusions to survive on his primary instincts. Big Boy encounters a situation that leads him to make sacrifices for others. As his friends try to get him angry in which they succeeded. Even though the individuals are claiming victory, Big Boy still engages in violence by proving survival. The way he proved that was by killing Bobo. This is ironic because Big Boy did not intentionally mean to hurt Bobo, and this specific incident Richard Wright's strongest criticism.

Secondly, they encouraged each other to go to a swimming hole. The boys bailed out. Big Boy thought they were fine. He believed they should continue to go in since they were already trespassing. Everything was pleasant, as they splashed and laughed in the water. Until, a white woman approaches them as they getting out. Even though they were paralyzed with fear, Big Boy decided to ask her for clothes. He realized at this time that he was hostile when the lady began to scream and call her husband. The solution to lady shouting enabled a young man getting lynched. Ironically the boys were playing hooky and were not suppose to go in there anyways.

Another valuable lesson that Big Boy encountered was with nature. It was the killing of a snake and a dog. The killing of the snake was a metaphor to the mob attacking him. The incident with the snake was very vicious. He beat the snake until it was still and then stomped it with his heel; grinding its head in the dirt. He took out his unadulterated emotion on the animal, and during the struggle the language makes it unclear who is who. For example, it is said that Big Boy's eyes turned red, teeth bared in a snarl, as if he turned into the snake for the