An Analysis of Ann Petry’s “Like a Winding Sheet” Essay

There have been countless studies to that show Stress, Frustration and Anger ar re newd. In Ann Petry short story akin a Winding shred you scum bag observer this relationship. First, let us study the title Like a Winding Sheet the words Winding Sheet agent shroud, this indicate the characters of the story could have a shroud respite oven him? The story is told in a third person point of mess it takes place in the Ghettos of Harlem. As you start reading the story, you can see right away Johnson and his married woman Mae seem to be a happy black couple. He tries to get up before his wife Mae, and he wants to surprise her by fixing breakfast (1).This divulges a sentimentalist side of Johnson to the reader however, instead of getting up he goes approve to sleep because, he has worked ten hours at night and his legs are sore. another(prenominal) sign of Johnsons love for Mae is when they were arguing about cosmos late for work and he couldnt bring himself to talk to her roughly or threaten to strike her like a lot of men cogency have d 1 (59). Although, this appears from the outward appearance to be a typical relationship its hard to ignore the inward emotion that Johnson has been keeping bottled up. Was this the informant of Johnsons Stress, Frustration, and Anger?As the story moves on Johnson make to work late as always, he see the forewoman, a ashen woman who is upset about something. He avoids looking at her, precisely she stops him anyway. He greets her good evening Mrs. Scott (91) and waits for her reaction. The forelady refers to the time and tells him that he is late again (92). Johnson explains to her that his legs are giving him trouble. Then suddenly she makes a remark thats bring out Johnson offense Every clapperclaw comes in here late always has an excuse (100) and spades are the worse (102). She also points out that she is sick of niggers (104) which is definitely, in today society considered a racial statement. This along with t he fact that it was coming from the mouth of a duster woman was more than Johnson was prepared to handle. But, he reframes from hitting her because she is a woman. Was this the beginning of Johnsons Stress, Frustration, and Anger?Work is finally over and Johnsons fussiness has subsided. However, this doesnt last long. As Johnson makes his way dental plate he sees a line of people being service deep brown at an urn. He stops to get some when the white girl who isserving the coffee refuses to give Johnson a cup and he assumes it is because he is black plainly in really it was because the young lady had to make more. Just the mentation of not being serviced the coffee because, he was black made him uncivilised and makes him want to hit her so hard that the scarlet lipstick on her mouth would smear and spread over her nose, her chin (253). But, as with the forelady he reframes from hitting her because she is a woman. Was this the beginning of Johnsons Stress, Frustration, and Ang er?Johnson makes home from work and starts arguing with his wife. She says that he is nothing but a esurient nigger who is trying at act tough (312).This pushes Johnson over the raciness his anger and defeat take over. He finds his hands on this wife face not realizing that he was taking all his anger and frustration on the one he loves. You may ask why Johnson didnt hit the forelady when she calls him a nigger, and why did he control his anger when the waitress refuse to give him a cup of coffee, and more distinguished why did he lose it when his WIFE called him a hungry nigger. As the reader of this story I came up with two answers to these questions one is if a black man lost control on a white woman his life would be worthless and black on black violence was acceptable. My second reason is as human being we have the tendency to take all of our frustrations and anger out on the ones that we love hoping that they will understand and will forgives us.