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Jong Heon Park

English 101
Literary Analysis
9/24/2015

Tiger Analysis
Although some may argue the contrary, Thomas Wolfe incorporates Blake`s poem The
Tiger in his short story The Child by Tiger, to delineate his idea about the African Americans
in the society during his time. His intention is not highlighting the injustice towards the blacks in
the society of early 20th century. There is a deeper thought in his short story. Based on the
depiction by the narrator, Thomas Wolfe believes Dick Prosser is a fearful entity, much like the
tiger in Blake`s poem, The Tiger.
The short story written by Thomas Wolfe is an literature created to depict and help
audience have a better understanding about the world. He presents his ideas through his
protagonist name Spangler. Since the story is first person narrative, opinions of Spangler are
lucid, which the author shares, and quick to catch. The tale begins by the protagonist looking
back into his old years back in little town located in North Carolina. The setting of the story is in
pre-civil right movement so people were openly racist towards African Americans. This sets up
the tone for Dick Prosser`s struggles in the little town.

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In the beginning of the story, readers are introduced to the character Dick Prosser through
the protagonist. Dick was an adventure for him and his friends. He was skilled in throwing
football, boxing, and numerous other exciting activities. Readers also learn that Dick served in
the Army and is a religious man. He is portrayed as very calm and respectful man towards the
beginning of the story. He was deeply religious and went to church three times a week. He read
his Bible every night.(Wolfe 726) Through many description of Dick, readers can image his
view as a virtuous man with a generous heart.
However, the author does not portray Dick as a immaculous victim of a crude racism. He
had a capability to do so but he depicts Dick`s dark side of the heart as well in the beginning of
the story. But suddenly the whites of his eyes were shot with red, his bleeding lips bared for a
moment over the white ivory of his teeth. (Wolfe 726) When faced with an unjust situation,
clearly Dick`s eyes are like the eye of the tiger from Blake`s poem. In what distant deeps or
skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes? This line delineates the rage that the narrator can see in tiger`s
eye, portrayed as Dick Prosser in Wolfe`s version. Readers can observe that he is not a trained
dog who takes everything and probably has a limit in his patients.
There are many explanations about Dick`s background in the short story. However, none
of them are clear that it is true. Readers can not confirm anything about Dick other than he
comes from an Army and is a very skilled shooter. Similarly, Tiger in Blake`s poem the narrator
question the origin of the tiger. What immortal hand or eyes, Could frame thy fearful
symmetry. (Blake) This delineates the fear that the whites in the town feels toward Dick.

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Although it is not stated in the story, readers can know that people did not feel comfortable or
even feared Dick a little since he is an African American. It is in human nature to fear an
unfamiliar entities. Due to his race and differences, he was an outsider in his community.
With many causes behind, Dick`s rampage was inevitable. He went from calm and
religious man to heinous killing machine. He runs away after killing a man and two police
officers who came to investigate. On his runaway he kills additional six. Eventually he gets
caught and gets shot to death. From here readers can feel Dicks emotional turmoil within him.
Even though the causes are unclear in this story but the author speaks his opinion through
protagonists thoughts. He speaks at the last page that He came from darkness. He came out of
the heart of darkness, from the dark heart of the secret and undiscovered South. In this quote,
the dark heart not only comes from Dick`s but also their treatment toward Dick. As more unjust
happened around the town they probably picked on Dick more since he was an easy target.
Town`s people`s behavior was the darkness gave birth to Dick dark mind.
Like the tiger in Blake`s poem, Dick is a fearful person feared by his society. Through
Dick author really portrayed dark side of a man. How even a such a calm, loyal, religious men
can turn into such an animal. Wolfe`s intention behind this story is to get the readers to think why
and how did it become normal for the African Americans to be what they are now. Then stating
that they also has dark side of soul like all of us. One can argue the otherwise but the evidence
are so overwhelming that Wolfe had more in his mind than just racism toward the African
Americans.