Richard Wrights The Man Who Lived Underground Free Essay Example, 1500 words

This symbol shows that Daniels is depicted as being lower than the white officers, which is exactly how African Americans were treated at this time. This scene shows Daniels as less of a human being than the white officers, as there is no way they would stick their heads in a sewer. The depiction of Daniels in this scene is symbolic of how many blacks were treated in the Depression era United States. Also, the fact that he was forced into the sewers to begin with is an issue because â€Å"survival of this sort is an integral function of a particular discourse formation or dominant ideological view that pushes African Americans and other minorities into the negative pole of a phenomenological dialectic. In establishing a racial or an ideological hegemony over this segment of society, the culture of the majority (the aboveground) assumes a position of dominance--the positive pole (the privileged center or the "self")† (Young 1). The underground is also symbolic of how African Americans are enclosed in this life that they do not want any part of. We will write a custom essay sample on Richard Wright's The Man Who Lived Underground or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now African Americans do not wish to be treated as second class citizens, nor do they wish to flee the oppression that they face from other members of society. The fact of the matter, however, is that they must do this in order to survive. Daniels did not want to flee to the underground, but he felt that he would not survive unless he did so. He knew that the charges that were brought against him were not true, but he also knew that he would either be found guilty in court or would not even make it to court if he did not run. The only place that he could run was away from this society that oppressed him, which means that he had to leave society and join the underground. This was not so much a choice as it was a means of survival, albeit temporary, for Daniels. This is how much of black society is forced to react, as they know that they will face oppression in many parts of society, so they stay in their own society, away from the rest of the country. T his is how many African American institutions were started, but it has also led to many stereotypes being created, with many of them getting worse over time. Daniel’s situation shows that while African Americans can attempt to escape by leaving certain parts of society, the ideologies will eventually catch up with them because they are always present. While in the underground, Daniels is able to view many different parts of society, which is significant because he is on the outside looking in on these things.