The Library Card

The Library Card: Richard Wright, U.S.A (1908- 1960)

Summary

American writer Richard Wright, who is black, is the author of "The Library Card." A young black child once saw a white guy named H.L. Mencken being attacked by another white man while reading the newspaper "The American Mercury." He was astonished since he had previously believed that only African Americans were despised, not a man from a white town. Mencken was referred to as a fool in the piece, which was written in a rage.

Because of this, he developed a strong desire to learn more about Mencken and was greatly motivated to study his books. However, black people are not permitted to visit libraries. They weren't given enough credit for the library cards. Fortunately, he was able to read two H.K. Mencken novels at his office using a man's white community library card. He thereby discovered himself in a new universe. He is aware of the reasons Mencken was despised by his own people. He had discussed the equality of whites and blacks. He becomes more aware of reality as he reads the man. The boy always went to the library in this fashion, reading the book more attentively and critically. He understood his boss after reading numerous books, and he also realized that he had been missing a crucial aspect of life. Reading had become for him like a narcotic up until that point. He needed to have a wide range of knowledge because he wanted to be a writer.

For this reason, he brought and began reading English grammar books in an effort to learn the language, but he soon realized that novels were a better source of English than grammar. After reading a number of novels, he was able to comprehend the suffering and pain of slaves as well as the brutal application of cruel laws by the white against the black. Because of his education, he decided that he did not want to live in the South as a slave. He was unable to resist the white because he belonged to the smaller group. His knowledge and learning set him apart from other Black people in this regard. He therefore found it difficult to ignore about black's miserable predicament. As a result, at the conclusion, feeling lacking in his ability to become a writer, he got very dejected.

Application of Four Levels

• Literal Comprehension
  • The story's speaker is Richard Wright. He is a young black boy who is ignorant and illiterate at first. He is reading a newspaper story one day. There, he learns that other white people frequently disparage and attack a white author by the name of H.L. Mencken. The author is curious about the causes of enmity. He hopes to do this by reading Mencken's novels. However, black people are denied access to libraries and are denied library cards. A compassionate and considerate Irish Catholic man named Mr. Falk grants the youngster two library cards and also provides him the cards for his wife. The author forges the letter himself in order to acquire two Mencken volumes. After reading these texts, he realizes why his own people despise Mencken. The equity between whites and blacks has been a topic of his writing. He grows more conscious as he reads more. The boy frequents the library to get books, which he then reads critically and carefully. He then comes to appreciate the mystery of the cosmos and his own rights and freedom. He distinguishes himself from other black people. He is aware of the suffering of Black people and the stupidity of White people. He improves his English, matures intellectually, and then starts to write for the freedom and rights of black people.
• Interpretation
  • The story primarily addresses the racial and social inequality that Blacks and Whites experienced in the years following the American Civil War. It depicts the deplorable and impoverished state of the Black people, who were severely conditioned and mistreated by the White people. They were also denied access to public facilities including playgrounds, libraries, and parks. This tale also emphasizes the value of knowledge in society and shows how only literate people can comprehend their surroundings and way of life. It is also clear that illiterate and uneducated people resemble animals that have been trained by humans. They are unaware of the unfairness done to them by others. Black folks in the southern region of the USA experienced the same thing. The writer didn't realize that black people experienced inhumane treatment and discrimination because of their skin tone until after reading the books. Even though he had a strong disdain for White people, he was unsure of the best course of action to use to break free from them. He ultimately ran out of options and questioned how much longer he could put up with it. This demonstrates how pitiful black people were to not even consider defending their freedom and rights.
• Critical Thinking
  • This tale is compelling, moral, and grounded in reality. It exhorts the value of education. Additionally, it portrays the reality of racial discrimination in South America against blacks and whites. Some concepts, though, are debatable. How can the black boy read newspaper editorials objectively if he cannot read? If he is illiterate and dominated, how is he able to forge the letter? After reading this tale, we discovered how viciously white people treat black people. But we are aware of how democratic and participatory the USA is. How can we accept that black people are treated so cruelly in such a country? Is not everyone required to attend school? Was the black man's liberty actually taken? As a result, I cannot entirely concur with the author.
• Assimilation
  • I learned many ideas and inspirations from this novel as an English language learner. I'll start attempting to deduce the meaning of new words by reading them in their context and use. If I'm stumped, I'll consult the dictionary. Similar to the author, I had become tired of English grammar. I'm going to try reading books to improve my sense of logic in English right now. More than anything, I have a secret, deep urge to write books in Nepali rather than in English. Despite my intentions and emotions, I failed, and I now recognize my frailty. I don't have a proper understanding of life. The breath of life is beyond anything I can grasp. I'll read a lot of excellent books in an effort to broaden my horizons. Additionally, I will have a strong connection to the lives of real people. Above all, the narrator's life has inspired me to continue reading despite challenging circumstances.

Referance

(Subedi, K.P. and Bhandari, M.B. (2014). Business English. Kathmandu: Highland Publication P. Ltd.)