Summary of Short Story : The Man Who Was Almost a Man by Richard Wright

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Richard Wright
Dave Saunders, a boy, 17 years old. Sometimes, he work for Mr. Jim Jim Hawkins, he helping Mr. Jim Hawkins in the field and got a pay from it. Near his house, there was Joe’s store, the store sold anything. Once upon a time, when Dave was at the field he got struck out across the field. He saw niggers. Dave’s think it wasn’t important to talk with them at the field, they understand nothing. That once of these day, the niggers were going to get a gun and practice shooting and then they don’t talk to Dave as though Dave were a little boy. Dave though, he wasn’t scare to them even they bigger than him. He got an idea to prove that he was not a little boy anymore. He want to go to Mr. Joe’s store, get the store’s catalogue and look at their gun. Maybe his mother let him to buy it after got a pay from Mr. Jim Hawkins. He’s old enough to have a gun, he though.

He came to Joe’s store, Dave asked Joe’s permission to borrow the catalogue and promised to bring it back then, after he go back from the field, Joe asks what his planning on buying. Dave said that he want to buy a gun. Joe said that Dave just a boy and don’t need a gun. But, Dave still want to get the gun. Joe told him that his store has a gun, a pistol, it priced $2 for Dave. Dave agreed, He go back home. And he’ll buy it after he got some money from his mother.

At home, he met his mother, sat down, he resting the catalogue at the edge of the table. His mother command him to take a bath then get a supper. He went out from the room, then came back to grab tha catalogue. His mother saw it. His mother grab it ftrom him, looked at the catalogue. Dave ask to give it back to him. After a long time, his mother gave it. He sat down and read the catalogue, open one page to other page and finally got the gun that he wanted. His father come to him and ask about his work at Mr. Jim Hawkins’ field. He didn’t hear clearly because fascinated by the gun.

With his courage, he talk to his mother in the kitchen. He asked about his pay that given by Mr. Jim Hawkins. His mother didn’t plan to give him the money and save it for his school in Winter. He told about the gun that sold at Joe’s store. one that he want. His mother didn’t allow him to buy the gun, he is a boy, don’t need a gun. He try every way to make sure his mother let him buy the gun. Finally, his mother let him. He must promised that he buy it, then bring it home and give it to her mother. Dave got his gun, but he break his promise. He didn’t give it to his mother.

Now, he had a gun. all of his imaginary about want to kill anybody will be really happen. But he still afraid about his father, he might knew about this gun, his mother may told him. To avoid surrendered the pistol, he waiting go back home until all people at home got sleep.

In the morning. He go to the field earlier. He reached the barns were the mules and the plows were kept. He hitched Jenny (a mule) to a plow and started across the field. He talked to Jenny that he have a gun, and if she act a fool he will shoot her. When he held a gun at arm’s length. Accidentally, the gun shoot Jenny, Jenny running over the field. His hand was numb, the gun lay ito his feet, he trying to stop the pain. He looked at Jenny that far over the fields. He came to Jenny, looking, not believing. Jenny was bleeding. He felt statisfied cause he has shoot someone, even it’s Jenny. But, he felt panic, he must not shoot Jenny. He tried to stop the blood, Jenny would bleed to death. Everything is too late, Jenny got die. He picking up the gun and buried it at the foot of tree.

In sunset, two of Hawkin’s men digging a hole in which to bury Jenny. Dave surrounded by some of people. Mr. Jim Hawkins asked him what happen to Jenny. Dave said that Jenny getting wild then fell on the plow, bleeding, and dead. He was lying. His mother came close to him, and forced him to tell the truth. Suddenly, one man said there like a bullet hole in Jenny’s body. Some people asked him to tell the truth. But he didn’t admit. Because this accident, Dave must pay $50 for Jenny. He must work for Mr. Jim Hawkins to pay $2 every month. Dave’s father asked where is the gun, Dave told that he throwed it away. His father command him to find the gun and give it to Mr. Jim hawkins. Then, They go back home.

At night, Dave can’t sleep. He thinking about his gun, he won’t give it to Mr. Jim hawkins. He turned over, how to fired the gun. He got an idea. That night he didn’t sleep, he could fire his gun. He eased out of bed and slipped into overalls. The Moon was bright, he ran to the edge of the woods. He looking for where he buried the gun. He find it. He dig it and took it up. He found four cartridges unshoot. he looked around the field, there filled with silence and moonlight. He clucthed the gun stiff and hard in his fingers, as soon as he want to pull the trigger, he close his eyes and his head turned. Bloooom! The bullet come out from the gun, he was not breathing. The gun was still in his hand, he pulled the trigger 4 times. Then, the gun is empty. He put it in his pocket and walk trough over the field. He stuck looked at Mr. Jim Hawkins’s house. Thinking if he has one bullet left, he will shoot it. he want to make Mr. Hawkins scare a little.

He walked down the road, toward the tracks. He had his gun on his hand. The cars slid past, steel grinding upon steel. He hesitated just a motherent, then he grabbed, pulled the top of a car and lay flat. He felt his pocket, the gun was still there. Ahead the straight tracks in the moonlight. Go far away, away to somewhere, where he could be a man.





Read the story here : The Man Who Was Almost a Man by Richard Wright




































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