Literal Comprehension:
"The Library Card" is written by Richard Wright, a black writer in
America. Once a negro boy was reading a newspaper "The American Mercury"
on which he saw a white man called H.L. Mencken being abused by another
white man. He got surprised since he used to think that only negroes
were hated, but not white man. The article was furious denunciation in
which Mencken was called a fool. Therefore , he became curious to know
more about Mencken and was highly inspired to read his books. However,
the blacks are not allowed to go to library. They were deprived of the
library cards. Fortunately, he was able to use the library cards of a
white man in his office and read two books by H.K. Mencken. As a result,
he found himself in a different world. He understand the reason why
Mencken was hated by his own people. He had talked about the equality
between whites and blacks. The man he reads the more he understand the
reality. In this way the boy always went to the library and read the
book more critically. After reading many books, he understood his boss
and he realized that he had been missing a very important thing in life.
Upto that time. Reading became like a drug to him. So, he wanted to
became a writer he had to know so many things and people well. That's
why, he brought English grammars for learning English, but he found the
English better from novels than grammar, after reading many novels
realized the suffering of slaves, suppression and violent operation of
cruel law by the white against the black. So, he didn't like to live the
life of a slave living in the south because of his education. As he was
in the minority, he couldn't fight against the white either. In this
way, his education mad him different from others blacks. So, he couldn't
forget the pathetic situation of black easily. Therefore at the end
having felt incompleteness in himself to become a writer, he became
very sad.
Interpretation:
The writer may be trying to tell us that education is supremely
important ornament of life. The more ones reads the more knowledge one
perceives about the vastness and mystery of the world. In this story a
negro boy becomes curious to read more and more after reading a
newspaper editorial in which Mencken is severely criticized. His thirst
of learning increase. As a result, he starts reading a lot. Reading
makes him conscious about the painful condition and suffering of the
blacks and changes his attitude towards life and the world. In this way,
his education makes him different from others. Consequently, he
understand the discrimination, injustice and inequalities between the
whites and blacks.
Critical Thinking:
After reading this story we learnt that the white people behave Negro
quite savagely. But we know that the USA is a highly democratic nation.
In such nation, how can we believe that blacks are treated so savagely?
Isn't there compulsory education for all? How can a boy forge the letter
if he is uneducated and if he is discriminated? Was the black's freedom
realty seized? So, we aren't totally convinced with the ideas of the
story.
Assimilation:
Before reading this story I used to think that English could be learnt
by means of English grammars. But after reading it, I know that we can
guess the meaning of a new word according to the context rather than
using the dictionary frequently moreover, I understand that education is
supremely valuable. So, I have determines to continue my education to
her higher degree for making my life meaningful.
The
Library Card
-Richard Wright
In
this essay entitled “The Library Card,” Richard Wright has presented a vivid
picture of his desire for reading and value of education. Wright was a Negro
boy. The black people weren’t allowed to borrow books from the library. One
day, he read a article on H. L. Mencken. Mencken was severely criticized in the
article, so Wright wanted to know why he was criticized. He decided to read the
books by Mencken. So he asked an Irish catholic named Mr. Falk to provide him
the library card. Richard Wright forged the signature of Mr. Falk and was able
to bring two books by H. L. Mencken. He knew more about Mencken. The reading
broadened his mind. The more knowledge he gained, he was able to understand the
world around him. The hunger of knowledge increased, and he read a lot of
books. It made him different than the other blacks. He understood why the
blacks were discriminated. And similarly, he understood why Mencken was
criticized.
Because
of reading, Richard’s attitude towards the world and his society changed. He
was better able to understand the injustice and prejudices deep rooted in the
society. Thus, Richard Wright sings the importance of education in this essay.
Education enhances our knowledge about ourselves and the world.
(a) Introduction
(b) Summary of "The Library Card"
(c) Summary of "Why go to University"
(d) Why is education considered to be supremely valuable?
Ans: The value of education is something about which you can go on writing so many things. It is not something which can develop on a scale basis. The education helps people in two ways -material and intellectual. If education is some thing which is associated with gaining knowledge for better prospectus, then I do not prefer it. In my opinion the real value of education is when it makes people enlightened and removed off from the various prejudices. Education, more than anything, makes a man understand himself more. It opens a broader spectrum for the men. Both these aspects are dealt up in two chapters. Through, both of them i.e.the library and the university are places of learning. They both enlighten the people (students). But both have different means to do so. The library is a place where a person interacts with the books, but in a University, he interacts with people.
In the effort of trying to know more about the white writer (Mencken) who wrote in the favor of the blacks, and got criticisms. Mr. Richard Wright (a Negro) comes to know about so may other writers. He knows not only the writers but also the many other writers who have any sort of bias. He comes to learn about so many books which seem to open the floodgates of information and new worlds that Richard himself is amazed about how could people write so much which they have known. This also clears the clouds of prejudices held by blacks against the writers. But it also helps certain misconceptions held by Negros (including the writer) to get cleared. The writer realizes the weakness of Negros themselves. He finds the Negros themselves responsible for their condition. He realizes the bias and exploitation between the Negros themselves. But after all it is only the bookish knowledge that Richard gets. He does not get the real feel of human nature.
But in contrast of it, we have the University. There we get the real encounter with people. We come in contact with so many people of so many ethnicity, language, class, culture etc. It is an open book where one makes analysis and understanding on real basis. In this regard the writer has suggested many points as to why to go to University. The University education enhances our chances of career development by way of promotion and sop increasing income and social standings. It teaches us rational and scientific thinking, tolerance, open-mindedness, and the attitude of questioning established ideas. It even helps in a hygienic and healthy living. We come in category of learned people, so we are given value, which only library learning may not.Education enhance our self-confidence. Like in case of library, University education also makes us inquisitive. Education by both ways gives us more democratic perhaps.
In this way, even through the purpose of both- the library and the university are to give education, but both are also different in their own ways.
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