The short story "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" by Richard Wright tells of a 16-year-old black boy who is desperate to assert his manhood. He comes to the conclusion that owning a gun will give him the authority and respect that he thinks he deserves, so he buys one, only to make a terrible mistake with oppressive consequences. In the end, he runs away to try to become a man on his own terms.
Both of Dave's parents are strict, but Dave's father is far more domineering than his mother. He is a disciplinarian who beats his son if he doesn't obey, and as a result, Dave fears being honest with him. Dave's mother is more practical. She keeps the money in the house. She has a closer relationship with her son, and Dave has the confidence to approach her with the idea of owning a gun. Eventually, her love for her son and her wish to see him happy causes her to break down and give him the money. To Dave, however, the gun represents a maturity that his parents cannot give him, and as a result, he is...
(The entire section contains 2 answers and 619 words.)
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