Civil War Legacy in The Stonemason - Essay Example

The Stonemason tale is created with great regard for the history of the United States. McCarthy questions who would run the world if history swallows everybody up (74). The African American population regards greatly the efforts displayed by their ancestors in fighting for their freedom and rights. This fact creates the entire legacy that the African American population enjoys. This specific population group believes that they have achieved what they have by right. Additionally, they vow to value what their proprietors fought for and set aside for them. As Brooks writes, Marmee cannot stop weeping as she narrates to March how a slave had been branded with a red-hot iron on his face (87). The rights of these slaves are what March believes in and in time, March joins the Underground Railroad to help fleeing slaves get to free countries.

As an African American descendant, Ben The Stonemason believes that it was by God’s grace they were redeemed from the shadows of racism. McCarthy points out that ‘we were pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand (64). This shows that the fact they have freedom in the United States the black population feels that they have everything to be thankful for what they enjoy in the modern century. Additionally, McCarthy portrays the African American population in The Stonemason to be very religious. This cultural preference is because the legacy of the Civil War brings out the character of thanksgiving to the black population (64). In The Stonemason Ben believes that the scripture holds the basic requirements of one behavior, ‘you go against the scripture you are on your own, the man up there is not going to help you’ (McCarthy, 63).

On a negative note, African Americans are argued to be misunderstanding the legacy the Civil War brought to society. This is because of the increased conflicts between them. In The Stonemason, Ben lost his nephew, Soldier, due to the street battles. The creation of gangs in championing the rights of the youths has gone against what the ancestors fought for in the civil war. However, McCarthy points out that it is these small acts of valor may all that are visible of great movements of courage within (131).

The African American population respects and acknowledges the Civil War and the efforts by their predecessors in redeeming the population group, but it is because of him that I am not reduced by these mysteries but am one more among them (McCarthy, 97). They value their right to operate without discrimination whatsoever in a nation where their grandparents struggled for recognition in normal society.

In The Stonemason, Ben orders Soldiers to stay off the streets and gangs and go to school. He also offers him a working position in his company to make him useful in society. Ben is a perfect example of an African American descendant who values greatly the legacy of the Civil War. He takes care of his own and works hard to earn a living which is a right given to him by his grandparents who fought in the civil war. The character Soldier plays depict the negative creations of the society who do not acknowledge the legacy of the Civil War among the African American population. The soldier has a perfect family setting and the opportunity to go to school. However, he does not maximize these opportunities and right as an American citizen or a beneficiary of the Civil War.

The cumulative relationship in the working class themes in the text depicts an entire family setting in the real world. The working-class family in the text closely has a bond that revolves around the progress in the workstations. The themes have a connection with societal factors like civilization, religion, and wealth. Additionally, the working class theme of deceit and lies is also depicted in The Stonemason. As a person, I originated from a working-class family and all the themes in the text relate greatly relate to my life. For instance, every person in our household is given the opportunity and right to education since there are resources to fund the requirement. Additionally, every member is directly or indirectly involved in the working stations of our providers, our parents. Just like in The Stonemason, we have close family ties down from the extended family to our family setting based on how we relate to each other professionally and socially.