“The Library Card” by Richard Wright

Web resources:  For further information about Richard Wright, go the the PBS web-site discussing the movie made for public television that introduces the impact he made on American literature through the publication of his autobiographical work, Black Boy.

Discussion questions:

What gave Wright the idea that he should read something by Mencken? (45)  What problems did he face when he resolved to read one of Mencken’s books? (46)  How was he finally able to obtain a copy of one of his books? (47)  Is this sort of experience like any that you have had?

Once he obtained a copy of a book by Mencken, under what conditions was Wright able to read it?  How does he describe the impact of reading the book on himself? (48)

When Wright claims that reading a novel by Sinclair Lewis enabled him to understand his boss (implicitly even better than his boss understood himself), how do you think this might have happened? (49)  Do you think Wright is correct in his claim?

How did reading create a tension in Wright’s life? (49-50)  Can you explain why Wright calls himself “unlettered” and carrying a “criminal burden” (50) because of his reading?  How did Wright view his options in life once he began reading regularly? (51)

How does this selection contribute anything to our course?  Does it highlight any features of the intellectual journey that you can discern?  Can this be related to any of the other readings in the section or to themes from Bonaventure?