Is Homer Barron black or not?
The narrator of the story is one of the people in the town and because of the fact that he/she is telling what neighbours know and their gossips, for some questions narrator doesn’t know more than reader does. However few hints can be find to be able to make a proper assumption.
From the story, it was told to the reader that Homer Barron was a dark skinned foreman, but a dark man doesnt have to be a black person. Their work is mainly working on streets under the sun and this might be the reason why his skin is dark.
Morever, there is a realationship between Homer and Emily. Since Emily was from a rich family, it wasnt proper for her to be with a man from lower class. All the town were gossiping over her and it would be mentioned because it would be a great disgrace for her if he was a nigger which will be equal to a slave in those days. And Emily has a servant who we dont know his name but only know the fact that he is “Negro”. If Homer Barron was a black person, it would be addressed directly as negro because people around were looking a reason to pity her.
1 response so far ↓
1
jo
// Oct 16, 2008 at 10:18 am
I like your support. I wonder in those days in the south, whether it was much worse for a woman of a high social class to be involved with a black man, or a poor white northern labourer?
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