The Rhetoric of Catalogues in Richard Wright's Black Boy

Abstract

about narrative (Hodges) and blues influence (Gilyard) are innovative but still do not address one of most obvious features of text: catalogues. Michel Fabre's excellent article on Wright's poetry (1970) offers interesting insights about poetry in Black Boy but does not address lists or catalogue passages to any extent. The intent of this study, therefore, is to demonstrate significance of four catalogues in terms of plot structure, theme, character development, and Wright's artistic philosophy. An examination of catalogues in terms of a rhetorical approach to problem of survival in South reveals interesting insights about Wright artist, and suggests a positive, metaphoric interpretation for Black Boy. Black Boy's traditional social/biographical criticism overshadows its artistic and technical aspects. The horror of Wright's life experience as revealed in book is so graphic that primary impression upon reader and critic is probably shock. Wright surely intended the American reader to consider South from black point of view, to understand that social structures, legal measures, interracial etiquette of country were all expressly designed to relegate black man [to an inescapable position] (Fabre, Unfinished Quest 280). These conditions do indeed deserve attention, but artistry of text has been obscured by emotional impact of its content. This is rather surprising considering poetic elements present. One example of this poetic influence is use of extensive passages of blank verse. The use of more nonpoetic lists which also echo events is less obvious as poetry. Because they interrupt prose and are so varied in style and content, these catalogues demand attention, yet very little has been given to them. Criticism of this