Dry September | Theme of Racism

Dry September Racism Theme

Faulkner’s story, ‘Dry September‘ is a forceful short story which reflects the poor condition of the then American Society which was clearly polarized between two communities and the separation was enforced by their skin colours. Actually, the time which has been shown here is a pre-Civil War stage when there was a turbulent crisis shown in American Society.

The storylines which have been established here, are supporting the crucial real picture of the society. The tension in the society was growing up rapidly. The theme of slavery was relentlessly inspiring the discrimination. Actually, during the time span between 1920s and 1930s, a group of landlords increased in the society. They were the middlemen. They used to possess a large number of lands, and pressurizing on the inhabitants specially the black-skinned people. The province of Mississippi was acquired by the black skinned natives. In the story, there is a direct clue to the theme where we see that Will had been subjected to suffer discrimination by his co-workers was located as Will was black-skinned.

The story was set in the post-slavery and Pre-Civil Rights in Mississippi. Most probably, for such characters likely John McLendon, contact between white and black and while people are governed by the strict unwritten code that must be constantly enforced from within the community itself. Anyone who will breach the code, may have to suffer a consequent fall in the eyes of the white people. In the story, the barber, Mr. Hawk constantly seems to defend Will for being an innocent and without having a guilt soul. But for that neutral approach Hawk was abducted by the goons and agitated mob.

Actually, the intention of the whites was to wear the fold of misjudgement and inflict over the blacks. However, the interplay between these two modes of vision sparks much of the tension in this story, and this tension helps the reader to read the short story from the perspectives of racial discrimination

People were motivated to engage themselves in crimes by racism. Here, in the story Hawkshaw’s attitudes toward black people is conflicted. The conflict is repeated at several points in the story. But the conflict remains unresolved. To judge the point of racism we need to enter into the story. We need to assess every character from the context of racism. Will is contextually innocent guy. The burden of the society was already upon the shoulder of Will. The rumour (without any permanent Judgment) was having an increasing burden over the shoulder of will.

Also Read:

• Problem of Racism in Aphra Behn’s Novel Oroonoko

The causality of the Civil War disrupted the prototype structure of the society. But that was for a short period. The consequences affected and returned with the same power. The story also explores the division within society along racial and gender lines. The lack of roles available women, and the violent roles required of men are harshly critiqued. Because society is constantly changing’s the roles of men and women are never stable. But constantly changing, and shifting and adapting to survive. “Dry September” shows off how difficult those changes can sometimes be.

The short story Dry September focuses on the fact that the kidnapping and the case of murdering will from the Mississippi town. The conflict was prominent in the society since a long period. Since the struggle of Abraham Lincoln, we have seen that, for the protection and security of the black skinned people in America, the tension was growing up. The issue of a franchise was restored in the society for the black people. But the dark de cane back again for those people who were feted to suffer and who were destined to be griped under the clutch of the white people may be in some indirect order. But the field was already there in the society.

How, Will had to suffer and get murdered was a big question. It was almost beyond civility. Inhuman treatment forced Will to be murdered. The story features a vigilance mob and explores the psychology of the mob’s formation and operation. As well we all know this scenario was real in the pre-Civil Rights south, and even after that. Set in the late 1920s and 1930s, the story presents a vision of a place where justice seems completely absent, and where conviction and sentencing come before investigation and trial.

The negative example, ‘Dry September‘ shows us that some important aspects of justice are patience, listening and entertaining multiple perspectives. Both the character Minnie and will are misjudged by the Americans. So, they are left in utter consequences in their life that they suffered a long downfall. However, the racial Question was so prominent in the story that, Will had pay the bill. Minnie was so shocked and nervously broken down, that she could not recover from that depression. The last consequence and nervous breakdown she suffered was really shocking. And the eyes of McLendon and his behaviour shown in the last of the story are pointed out, by the racial discrimination. How they are fired and vociferous in respective to his mood are only pointing to their hatred mind.