Shame by Dick Gregory - Essay Example

Shame The narrator of the story Richard Gregory explains various themes in the story ly; poverty, inferiority complex, love, racism and discrimination, self esteem and flash back. Display of Poverty is through the fact that Richard is unable to concentrate in school as a result of hunger. This made him scoop a few spoonful of paste at the back of the class room. For instance, the narrator only has one pair of school uniforms that he wears even if they are not dry mostly during that winter. Richard explains further that all the family members sleep in one room.

Richard feels inferior to Helene Tucker. He is afraid of even coming close to her and keeps a distance whenever he wants to greet her. He even has to clean his hand before greeting her. The narrator feels fabulous in white clothes. Richard Gregory is in love with Helene Tucker. He proves all this by the fact that he had to clean his school uniform daily, and water was scarce. He even goes to school just to see her. He denied his poor status just to be equal to Helene rich class. He obtained a ladies handkerchief just to avoid people seeing him wiping his face using his hands.

The story itself is but a flash back in Richard Gregory life. To him Helene is a symbol of people who are better than him. The demonstration of this love is when the narrator does everything in his life for Helene. The narrator broke college record just for her. The narrator shows racism and discrimination just by the mentioning of color in his story. He mentioned that teachers saw him as a black idiot boy. He also mentioned that the only clothe that made him look bosom was the white folks shirt feet him better.

Eventually the narrator shows that so long as one works hard in life he will succeed. He shows this by offering to pay the bill for the old wino in Mr. William’s hotel.