From Black Boy By Richard Wright

The young Richard Wright associates the bitterness and pain he feels over being abandoned by his father with the pangs of hunger he suffers. This suggests that his father's absence has left him in a state of deprivation and hunger, both physically and emotionally. The hunger serves as a metaphor for his longing for love, support, and stability, which he believes his father's presence could have provided. The absence of his father has left a void in his life, leading to feelings of bitterness and pain.

Richard's encounter with the gang of boys who beat him up is an example of external conflict because it involves a struggle between Richard and an external force, in this case, the gang of boys. The conflict arises from the actions and intentions of the boys, causing physical harm to Richard. This conflict is external to Richard's own thoughts and emotions, as it involves an external entity that is causing harm and creating tension in the story.

This scenario presents Richard with a dilemma where he must make a decision that involves his own thoughts and emotions. He is torn between two choices: submitting to his mother's punishment or confronting his fear by walking down the street. This conflict is internal because it is happening within Richard's mind and involves his own internal struggle and decision-making process.

In this excerpt from Black Boy, Richard learns from his experiences the importance of defending himself and taking control of his own destiny. Through the challenges he faces, including his father abandoning him, Richard realizes that he cannot rely on others to protect or guide him. Instead, he must learn to stand up for himself and make his own choices in order to shape his future. This lesson empowers Richard to become independent and determined to overcome obstacles, ultimately shaping his own path in life.

The pride that Richard feels in being asked to do the grocery shopping suggests that he will feel less helpless because he will bring food into the house. This implies that Richard may have experienced a sense of helplessness or lack of control in his life, and being given the responsibility of providing food for his family gives him a sense of purpose and agency. It shows that he is taking on a role that contributes to the well-being of his family, which in turn makes him feel less helpless and more empowered.

In the given pages, Richards describes how he fights back against the gang of boys. He explains that his actions were motivated by fear. This implies that the emotion of fear was the driving force behind his decision to fight back. It suggests that Richards felt threatened and vulnerable in the face of the gang's aggression, leading him to respond with a fight-or-flight response driven by fear.