Comparing Of The Main Heroes Of Driving Miss Daisy - Essay Example

Compare and Contrast Of The Main Heroes Of Driving Miss Daisy Introduction Driving Miss Daisy is a story that centers on the life of Mrs Daisy Werthan. At the beginning of the play, Daisy, who actually is the main character, is seventy two years old. Her husband long dead, the widow lives with Idella, her maid in her residence. Idella is an African American woman who does household chores for her aging mistress. Apart from Idella, the only family that Daisy knows is her son Boolie, until Hoke Colburn comes to the scene as the old widow’s chauffer. Later Idella passes on leaving the family smaller than ever, a lot being desired of her. Colburn comes to the light as Daisy’s chauffer following a driving mishap that renders her an inadmissible client to insurance companies as noted by Hoke: “The truth is, you just cost the insurance company $2,700. You're a terrible risk. Nobody's gonna issue you a policy after this” (Backrags par 6; Uhry 3). Although hesitant to get herself driven by a chauffer, Daisy gradually accepts Boolie in his capacity as a chauffer. The story of Daisy, her small family and her chauffer is punctuated with a lot of similarities and contrast in so far as the characters and their traits are concerned. The two main characters in the plot, Daisy and Colburn, particularly display a lot of contrast and similarities. The paper will focus on the two characters considering the central role that they play in the development of the plot. Character Backgrounds Mrs Daisy Werthan is presented as a retired schoolteacher “I taught some of the stupidest children God ever put on the face of this earth, and all of them could read well enough to find a name on a tombstone” (Bookrags par 13). Having been a school teacher, Daisy is presented as a knowledgeable woman -someone who ought to be respectable in society. Hoke Colburn on the other hand comes to the scene as an African American who is illiterate deserving of a lowly life after his career as a driver for a local judge ends. After meeting Daisy, Hoke gets to learn from the old Widow how to read at the age of 60. While Daisy is an old Jewish widow as can be seen from Hoke’s statement “Yassum. Mist’ Sig’s grave mighty well tended. I b’lieve you the best widow in the state of Georgia” (Fulton Theatre 4), Hoke is of African antecedent and no so less of an old man. The story presents therefore two characters from different worlds in terms of cultural backgrounds although having a common point in that they are both old. Being non-whites at a time when racial segregation is rife in the setting, the two characters witness a lot of discrimination as they go about their activities. This is practically seen at the point in the plot where highway patrolmen comment loudly referring to them as Old Jew Woman (for Daisy) and old Nigger (for Hoke) “[watching Daisy and Hoke leave after checking them out] An old nigger and an old Jew woman takin' off down the road together... that is one sorry sight!” (Bookrags par 3). Perceptions In a society dominated by whites, Daisy and Hoke are presented as outsiders in the society. Hoke cannot understand why her employer is so backward as not to understand the changes that are sweeping the social setting at the time. Mrs Daisy on the other hand fails to appreciate the reason why Hoke’s people are so resentful. Only when they are separated by circumstances do the two characters truly appreciate that they are pals and long time kindred spirits. In particular, this is seen when Daisy finds herself confined to a home for the old while Hoke retires from his work. Hoke is a person who is patient, caring, dignified and tolerant as can be seen from the way he treats his employer, Daisy. He does not fear to air out his views respectfully and in a calm way whenever he has a point to state. Furthermore, He stands for his rights whenever he feels that his rights are at stake. On the other hand, Daisy is clearly prejudicial, although this comes to change with time as she continues to interact with Hoke. Daisy is initially embarrassed to be driven by a chauffer considering the kind of perceptions that people will have on her age and riches. She is also prejudicial in the sense that she is reluctant to invite Hoke to dinner in a show of passive racism during Martin Luther King’s speech. When she notices that one of her cans of salmon is missing, she claims that Hoke has stolen it even without seeking to establish the truth. Hoke arrives in time to clarify that the food her employer left behind for him was dry, the reason he had to take one can of salmon which he actually replaced. This act of honest surprises and appalls Daisy. His perception of Hoke as a thief instantly changes. This is revealed in Hoke’s statement as follows: Oh, Miss Daisy, yesterday, while you were out visitin', I went and ate a can of your salmon. Now, I know you said eat the left-over pork chops, but they was kinda stiff. So, I stopped at the Piggly Wiggly and got you another can. You want me just to go on and put it in the cupboard? (Bookrags Par 6). Conclusion Daisy and Hoke share almost similar experiences with respect to the way the society treats them with discrimination. Being aged, the two characters share a point of commonality. Although Daisy has the habit of making prejudgments, this is note the case with Hoke. Hoke believes in patience and tells the truth without making prejudgments. The two characters in the end realize how much of friends they are in spite of their differences, more than ever beginning to appreciate one another. Works Cited Bookrags. Driving Miss Daisy Quotes. 2011. Web. 2 May, 2011 http://www.bookrags.com/quotes/Driving_Miss_Daisy Fulton Theatre. Driving Miss Daisy. 2010. Web. 2 May, 2011 http://www.fultontheatre.org/_files/live/Driving_Miss_Daisy_Study_Guide.pdf Uhry Alfred. Driving Miss Daisy. Theatre Communications Group. 1988. Read More