“Bat”
Though perhaps an odd selection at first glance, Alcott’s comparison of Robert and the bat in Aesop’s fable does an excellent job of capturing the tragedy of Robert’s mixed race, a very important theme throughout her story. In the beginning of “The Brothers,” Robert explains to Miss Dane that he would “rather be up here with the fever than down with those niggers; and there a’n’t no other place fer [him]” (2). At that moment, Alcott takes pity on him, realizing the isolation that Robert experiences every day simply because, “like the bat in Aesop’s fable, he belonged to neither race” (2). However, as the story develops, we begin to realize that, as the “bat,” Robert is not only misunderstood by others; he does not understand himself or his own place in the world either, forming the central conflict of the story and paving the path for Robert’s self-discovery.
“Gentleman”
At one point in the story, Miss Dane says that “the captain was a gentleman in the world’s eye, but the contraband was the gentleman in [hers]” (3). This realization truly serves as the basis for her mission to teach Robert to respect himself – to see himself as she sees him. In the end, when Robert chooses to be the bigger person and not kill his brother, he proves Miss Dane right, dispelling stereotypes and embodying the expectation anyone would have of a perfect gentleman.
“Poisonous”
While Alcott originally used this word to describe the captain’s breath, I think that the “poisonous” has racial and relational significance in the story as well. We see the poison of racism running rampant in the story, forming the way in which others, blacks and whites alike, view Robert. Racism truly poisons Robert’s sense of self, making it difficult for him to see himself as fully human and causing him to expect less of himself than what he is truly capable of. In terms of relationships, we cannot deny how racism poisons families; Robert’s mixed blood essentially excuses the captain’s rape of Lucy, nearly causing one brother to kill another.
2 comments:
The bat idea hadn't registered with me until you brought it up, Carolyn; thanks for mentioning it. You're right: it does contribute to the theme of belonging to both and neither. The oppositions in this story are rendered in such stark terms by the culture--black/white, male/female, South/North--that the understanding can barely take place--hence the "poisonous" idea you mention.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your insightful commentary on the word "poisonous". Like you mention, racism can be both poisonous to self-identity as well as to a culture. Do you think Robert would have reacted differently in the poem if he was more self confident?
Post a Comment