ipl-logo

Symbolism In The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

450 Words2 Pages

Seemingly a memoir about a young black boy and his white mother, James McBride is able to make The Color of Water so much more. He does this by having a whole hidden meaning behind his work. Whilst telling their stories he implies messages and lessons that the reader may relate and use in their own life. He does this using symbolism in many aspects of the story. In his novel, The Color of Water, James Mcbride adds depth and meaning to he and his mother’s stories by using symbols, such as his mother bicycle, birds, and the corner, to convey ideas of larger significance. Throughout his life, James knew his mother was different. As a child, this was based solely on the color of her skin, being the only white person in his black neighborhood.

Show More
Related

  • Symbolism In T. Craghessan Boyle's Greasy Lake

    1193 Words  | 5 Pages

    “The Indians called it Wakan, a reference to the clarity of its waters. Now it was fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with broken glass and strewn with beer cans and the charred murky remains of bonfires. There was a single ravaged island a hundred yards from shore, so stripped from vegetation it looked as if the air force had strafed it. We went up to the lake because everyone went there, because we wanted to snuff the rich scent of possibility on the breeze, watch a girl take off her clothes and plunge into the festering murk, drink beer, smoke pot, howl at the stars, savor the incongruous full-throated roar of rock and roll against the primeval susurrus of frogs and crickets.” (Boyle 168) “Greasy Lake”, written by T. Craghessan Boyle

    Read More

  • A Brief Review Of The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

    1099 Words  | 5 Pages

    He was a writer and a musician. He was the son of Andrew Dennis McBride and Ruth Hunter. Ruth and James’ experiences with religion and race are different. Throughout McBride writings, James and his mother experiences racial and religious discrimination. The book gives the

    Read More

  • How Did James Farmer Influence The Civil Rights Movement

    490 Words  | 2 Pages

    When out with his mother, he had asked her if he could get a soda, his mother told him to wait to get the drink at their house. James being only three years old did not understand that the reason he could not go into the store to buy his soda was due to his skin color. He then watched as a white boy walked in a purchased the same soda he wanted. Because James was African American he could not buy the soda in the store, this was the first of many experiences James would have dealing with segregation. Another interesting fact about James Farmer is that he attended college at the age of fourteen years

    Read More

  • Summary Of James Mcbride's Family

    487 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theory being applied to James McBride’s family is Sigmund Freud’s Psychodynamic theory. This theory is based on the grounds of the importance of early childhood experiences that shape personality and behavior (Lifespan). Applying this theory to James’ family we can begin by looking at the time period in which the children grew up. The family grew up in a time where black and whites did not marry and it was unacceptable for them to be together. This caused some of the family members to develop a defense mechanism.

    Read More

  • A Yellow Raft In Blue Water Analysis

    936 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the title of the novel suggests, the color yellow is one of the largest and most important symbols in A Yellow Raft in Blue Water. The color’s effects can best be seen in Rayona with the yellow raft at Bearpaw Lake, but can also be seen in Christine and Ida’s stories. The color yellow clarifies many of the novel's themes, including how each individual perceives the same situation differently, how reality shatters illusions, and how characters seek feelings of internal peace and permanence. Native Americans find symbolism in many everyday objects, including colors. They believe yellow is an opposing symbol, on one hand it denotes happiness, joy, and content, but on the other it is a color of cowardice, deceit, and hurt.

    Read More

  • The Color Of Water Identity Essay

    1170 Words  | 5 Pages

    James McBride demonstrates that one can learn about his own identity through others opinions of him in his society. Generally, youngsters often do not care about each other’s races unless someone wants the kids to distinct between the two races. At an early age, James realized that his race has something to do with his Identity. He noticed that both black and white people glare at his white mom and her black kids with an obscene expression on their face, letting James know that his family is different than other families which the society considered more acceptable than his family. James started to compare his skin tone with his mother’s skin tone and noticed that she was white however he was black.

    Read More

  • Glory Be By Augusta Scattergood: Book Summary

    639 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this book Glory is overwhelmed with how her town is handling people who are different than they are. She realizes that her favorite local pool is closing down so colored people can’t swim with the whites. Glory becomes an activist herself and writes a letter to the newspaper lining which makes her preacher father proud. Therefore, the theme of this book is to treat everyone equally, such as when Glory’s friend Frankie from Ohio drinks out of the “colored fountain”. Also, when Glory’s sisters boyfriend that he was arrested for sitting with a “colored friend” at the white table.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Jeanette C. Armstrong's 'Blue Against White'

    1161 Words  | 5 Pages

    Prince Salehi NBE3U1.60 Ms. Tasneem 17 May 2023 What Is Behind The Blue Door? Imagine a world without a “blue door”, where everyone’s voice is trapped shut. Without that spark in the world we have nothing really to look upon at. In this paper symbolism and theme will be mentioned based on “Blue Against White” by Jeannette C. Armstrong. In this essay there will be mentions talking about what the blue door highlights and symbolizes.

    Read More

  • Symbolism Of Crow Lake By Kate Morrison

    2096 Words  | 9 Pages

    In a farming community with people living monotonously doing farmworks. Kate Morrison, the protagonist, portrayed a compelling story named Crow Lake. The Morrison family had four kids and was part of the farming community in Crow Lake. The parents died in a car crash and Luke, the eldest took responsibility with Matt together to look after Kate and Bo. They encountered countless problems like money shortage, who should sacrifice their education, or who should look after the younger sisters.

    Read More

  • What Is Symbolism In The Veldt

    884 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ray Bradbury used symbolism, similes, and metaphors in The Veldt, in order to allow the family’s true colors to break the surface. Having multiple forms of symbolism allowed readers to let their imagination wander into how they interpreted the story and its meaning. The metaphors and similes handed readers something easy to compare the story to. Overall, Ray Bradbury’s excellent use of author’s craft made the short story interesting and fun to dive into.

    Read More

  • Tale Of Hope And Perseverance In Richard Wright's Black Boy

    222 Words  | 1 Pages

    The purpose of the opening scene of Black Boy was to set the stage for a tale of hope and perseverance; while growing up in Jim Crow South as an African American. Wright achieves this purpose by recounting an incident that greatly impacted his life, a fire he started as a small child. The incident is prefaced by Wright’s struggle with his family and the lack of security, love and acceptance; “dreading the return of my mother, resentful of being neglected.” This leaves Wright hungry for attention and this leads to an idea, the idea leads to severe consequences. Wright uses personification and metaphors effectively through a first-person view so the reader can feel the severity of the problems.

    Read More

  • An Explanation Of Color Illustrated In Molly Bang's Poem

    351 Words  | 2 Pages

    The image on page 39 is the picture I am choosing to journal over. The wolf has triangle red eyes, sharp triangle teeth, a slithering red tongue. The image shows the wolf creeping around a tree and spying on Little Red Triangle; the background is a light purple. I chose this picture because I believe it shows the reason that Molly Bang was trying to make throughout the book. On the page before this it shows the same image, however, the background is white.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In 'Green' By Cassia

    149 Words  | 1 Pages

    Green is a very prominent color in the story. Cassia chooses a green dress for her matching ceremony because it brings out her eyes. She says, "I like the idea that, for one night, I don 't look like everyone else"(page number). This shows her wish to stand out from the crowd and be unique. Green also represents Cassia 's strength.

    Read More

  • The Lowland By Jhumpa Lahiri Chapter Summaries

    1082 Words  | 5 Pages

    Green in contrast to the blue of the sky.” Water, sky and earth are integral parts of this remarkable, profound novel about the complex emotional adaptation to the ramifications of a

    Read More

  • Symbolism In In The South By Salmon Rushdie

    848 Words  | 4 Pages

    Junior and senior are both very similar, but also so different. They grew up in the same place, at the same time, but lived two completely different lives. Senior lived an eventful life doing a lot when he was younger, but now in his old age, he just wants to die. While junior is the exact opposite, junior’s life was boring for most of his life until two girls on a scooter made him stumble. As a result, junior passes away, leaving senior alone without a special friend.

    Read More

More about Symbolism In The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

Open Document