Nothing Can Be Done

When Wright’s mother goes through paralysis, he is very timid to see her in pain. The thought of her not being there for him, as she was the only real person to always be in his life, is very frightening. It is also very scary for him because she is usually very strong person and he is now seeing an entirely new side of her – one he doesn’t want to see. Even more so, Wright associates pain with hunger, and for that to translate into his mother is not a good combination.

However, Wright is forced to grow up after his mother’s illness hits. He writes his grandmother a letter for help and also asks for money from his aunts and uncles. Wright doesn’t like the loneliness he is experiencing and feels as though he has been thrown out into the real world, having to take on a new length of responsibility.

After his mother’s 2nd stroke, “Her illness gradually became an accepted thing in the house, something that could not be stopped or helped” (Wright, p.100). Everything begins to come together in Wright’s mind, realizing that like the racial roles, nothing can be done about them either.