How does Baldwin through his language technique succeed in immersing his reader in the experience of his characters? Chose any section of his amazing story “Going to Meet the Man”
James Baldwin’s Going to Meet the Man is an eery and horrific story in which we learn the confronting and ever-present reality of racism. Baldwin’s use of language entices the reader as he maintains a a calm tone throughout the novel, which I believes gives rise to concerning issue in which he commentates. The controversial topic is made approachable through Baldwin’s use of colloquial language using American slang. Baldwin shocks his reader as they open the book, with one of the most horrific murder scenes I have ever come across. The character of Jesse witnesses the unjust murdering of a coloured person. While the murder is taking place, Baldwin uses provocative language to describe the conflicting attitudes towards black identity as he states “He began to feel a joy he had never felt before. He watched the hanging, gleaming body, the most beautiful and terrible object he had ever seen till then. One of his father’s friends reached up and in his hands, he held a knife: and Jesse wished that he had been that man”. Baldwin’s use of language re-enforces the reality of racial violence that was present in American during that time. The hysteria surrounding this was norm as Jesse comments on his mother’s reaction – “He watched his mother’s face. Her eyes were very bright, her mouth was open: she was more beautiful than he and ever seen her, and more strange”.
In turn, although this story did make my stomach turn you can see how through his literary language Baldwin immerse his reader into the reality of racism. Although the meaning behind the text can be confronting, Baldwin makes it approachable through his style of writing which consequently presents his reader with a powerful message.
James Baldwin: It’s Not For Us to Cool It
