The Longest Memory :: essays research papers

Whitechapel is the focal character of DAguiars novel, The Longest Memory however, the author has used a great many new(prenominal) characters whose stories also stand-alone. Why has DAguiar organize his novel in this way and how does it lead the reviewer to an understanding of the impacts of buckle downholding?DAguiars central purpose is to make us reflect upon American party during the slavery era and to acknowledge its realities so that we understand the capability for evil that exists in society. DAguair has used Whitechapel and his memories to encapsulate the brutality and inhumanity of slavery. The succeeding narratives further our understanding of the society and these are presented in a manner that forces the reader to accept DAguiars judgements. The characters represent all of the voices of the society including people from different races, social statuss and both genders so that the reader can see the position society imposed upon all citizens. The forms of the individua l narratives help us to understand the reality of society because they allow the characters to emerge as individuals, telling their own stories with undisguised honesty. The Longest Memory is told from the oldest to the youngest character showing how society instilled its ideals on each generation in an uncompromising manner and so the stories overlap and intertwine, to illustrate this DAguiar has used an overwhelming tone of sadness and despair to emphasise the negative feelings that society created.Whitechapels narrative focuses on the symbolism of seeing the background for this is to give the reader a sense of the extent to which society enforced its beliefs upon people and how much it effected them. Whitechapel has lived a very long time and has in the long run realized the truth about his enslavement and the extent to which he is dehumanized this is emphasized by his regretful tone and demonstrates his disgust. The dehumanisation that has occurred is over his philosophies tha t as a slave he could earn respect through hard work and loyalty this is rejected when his son is killed. The repetition of the phrase, I am nobody acknowledges that as a slave the society could not reward his loyalty or hard work because he had no status.Various narratives have been put after each other so that the reader can compare two characters to see the different impacts that society had on them. This Juxtaposition is used to confront the reader with the inhumanity of the views of around characters such as Sanders Senior, the placement of Cook straight after shows that contrary to Sanders seniors disgusting beliefs she is quite human and is dramatically effected by his beliefs, the societies beliefs.