Blackout by Roger Mais
In Blackout by Roger Mais we have the theme of conflict, race, equality, connection, fear, class and pride. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Mais may be exploring the theme of conflict. The woman at the bus stop is hesitant to give the man a light from her cigarette. It is as though she feels that the man is infringing on her personal space. It also doesn’t help that the woman has an opinion with regard to the colour of the man’s skin. This may be important as Mais may be highlighting the inequalities that existed at the time the story was written with black people being considered inferior to white people. The fact that the man tells the woman that there is only two types of people (men and women) might also be significant as it suggests that any inferiority that the woman may be suggesting with regards to the man’s skin colour does not necessarily affect the man. If anything the man unlike the woman is colour blind with his skin colour being considered an irrelevancy. Something that is far different to the woman’s personal view on skin colour.
It may also be possible that Mais is exploring the theme of connection. The woman as she leaves to get on the bus is intrigued by the man. However she makes a point of not turning back to look at him. This too could be important as the woman may be concerned about what others on the bus might think about a white woman turning around to look at a black man. If anything the woman may fear being seen to be engaging with the man. Which may suggest that the social barriers that existed at the time the story was written with regards to black and white people engaging with one another has a strong hold on the woman’s consciousness. Though the woman is intrigued with her encounter with the man she is also fully aware of how any engagement with the man might be interpreted by others. Which may suggest that the woman is not allowing herself to step outside the preconceived and acceptable norms of the time. The fact that the man is able to challenge the woman is also interesting as rather than being intimidating he is actually asking the woman to look at her own values. Which may be the point that Mais is attempting to make. He may be suggesting that society in general needs to look at itself and to question its moral standards.
There may also be some symbolism in the story which might be important. The cigarette that the woman throws away could symbolise wealth or class especially if it is compared to the half cigarette that the man is smoking. Also the woman may feel as though the cigarette has been tainted in some way because she allowed the man to light his cigarette from it. Which may suggest to some readers that the woman is racist. That she does not consider the man to be her equal. Through his skin colour the woman may believe there is a fault. Something that would have been widely believed among white people at the time the story was written. The fact that the story is set during the war (WWII) might also be symbolically significant as Mais could be using the setting as foreshadowing to the conflict that develops between the man and woman. The fact that the man also touches the woman’s hands when he is lighting his cigarette could also be important as by doing so he is breaking down many socially accepted barriers of the time. That being a black man touching a white woman.
It is also possible that the woman is too proud to admit to herself and to the man that what he has said to her is correct. That she is not above others based on skin colour, gender or class. Something that might be difficult for the woman to understand considering the environment that existed at the time. The fact that the man picks up the woman’s cigarette is also interesting as despite what he has said to the woman the reality is that there are differences between social classes. The man is poor in comparison to the woman and as such feels the need to pick up the woman’s cigarette. It might also be a case that the man is not too proud to admit that he is poor. Something which would be in contrast to the woman. If anything the woman feels as though she is privileged based solely on her skin colour and her class. Whereas the only difference between the man and woman may be their circumstances. With one individual being considered to be more fortunate than the other.
In which way race class and gender affect the balance of power between the two people in this story blackout
One character is black and one is white so there is a perceived battle of power. The woman is also perceived to be of a better class than the man. So there is discrimination there too. One character is a man, one is a woman so there is an issue of gender. A battle of the sexes.
this story is to actually show how white people use to treat us when there was slavery. But what we have to understand from this passage is that is does not matter now your skin color, hair texture, religious, or even your personality what we could have done in 1918 to whatever else year we can do now. So do not let white come and tell u white shit because we as black people can tell them real black people shit too.
Wht stories would you say can be compared to the story Blackout
“Berry” “Mom Luby and the Social Worker”
I think the story “Telephone Conversation” is the one that can be compared with this story (blackout). The story also shows racism with the same story line but through a telephone and in more direct way. As the woman throws the cigarette in front of him to insult him same goes with the telephone conversation as the woman in the story asks him how black he is.
What about Berry?
what are evidence that this man considered himself as good as the woman
Why is the man initially amused by her reaction and what causes his amusement to change?
Thanks
I think this is good
Me too!!
How can I justify the title ‘Blackout’?
who’ the characters?
Where is the story occurring?
what is the conflict?
what are the themes?
What is the irony brought out in blackout
That the white woman isn’t afraid of the darkness because an American woman doesn’t scare easily but she’s afraid of the Black man because she is racist and thinks lowly of him
The irony also come from the very end of the story where the man picks up the cigarette that the woman flicked away. This is because throughout the story the man was perceived as respectful to the woman, since he did not shame her for her words nor her actions towards his race hence having a polite conversation, disregarding all stereotypical rumors towards race and class. It seems as if the man would not ‘step-down’ to her level of discrimination, due to the fact he happened to reply to ever thought she had. She may have been expecting the man to pick it up due to his background (race and class). However he did not pick it up right away, he only picked up the cigarette after she went onto the bus. Hence it is ironic because he ‘stooped’ to the level that the woman was attempting to bring him to. Since she thought of herself superior to the man.
I have interpreted it differently as a white women she is obviously rich enough to waste a cigrette else she wouldn’t throw it away nd the time he said sorry bcuz of his inferiority complex he understood her that she think lowly of him bcuz of his colour. Then he asked that if there is plenty more where it came from? Means she is obviously well off nd the black mam is poor that’s why he has to satisfy himself with half of cigrette. Nd perhaps he can’t afford much as it was also the time of wwII . And being a black he cannot be economically nd financially stable given the time period. It is ironic because he seemed as a decent and novel man but poverty has compelled him to stoop and retrieve the half smoked cigarette.
What effect did Roger Mais give to the readers by giving us access to the consciousness of the man but not the woman
Does this story have a writing style?
What kind of sequel could this go on with ?
What is a theme that is portrayed in this story “Blackout” by Roger Mais ?
can the short story berry be compared with this because of the similar themes??
How do the reference to cigarettes function to the structure of the story?
They may represent sharing or connection. However the woman ends up throwing her cigarette away. As though she is discarding the man.
The man asks the woman for a light to light his cigarette. They woman ends up giving the man her cigarette to light his. It is only after when the woman discards the cigarette (and assumed not to have smoked the rest of it) that the reader realises that the woman feels as though there is something wrong with the cigarette/man.
What effect does the writer achieve by narrating the story from the woman’s point of view?
why is the young man initially amused by her reaction and what causes his amusement to the change to ‘cold speculation and contept’?
Is poverty a theme?
How is poverty is portrayed in the story? How is the conflict solved?
Poverty can be seen where by the man had a half cigarette that he was saving for future use and the fact that he took the cigarette the lady discarded before she went on the train, the man’s finacial status can also be compared to the lady since she said “there’s plenty more where that came from, eh?” after throwing her almost whole cigarette away as though it was for free
Thanks Chadia.
This is very helpful to me..it also gives me a better understanding of the story
I have English literature cxc tomorrow and I didn’t fully understand this story and after reading this summary and the comments I now feel i will completely dominate any questions about “blackout” on the cxc paper thanks sooo much
the man considers himself just as good as the woman. What incidents suggest this?
what is an incident which demonstrates prejudice in this story?
what is the issue of the story and what is the story saying about it ?
and how are the characters affected by the issue
1. Racism and that it still exists.
2. The black man is fully conscious that the white woman is being racist.
What are your thoughts on a white woman being out at night?
Poverty is indeed portrayed in the story was where the woman saw then that he was smoking half of a cigarette that was saved for future consumption and also where he picked up the woman’s thrown away cigarette from the gutter, which concludes that the man doesn’t have enough money to even buy a new cigarette
what’s the climax of the story?
What is the plot of the story?
Why did the writer left the characters unamed?
Who is the antagonist and protagonist in this story
What are similarities or difference between this story and mom luby an the social worker?
Name three major and minor characters in the story
Who is ur favourite characters in the story and why
There is evident conflict between the two major characters. How does the setting contribute to this conflict in response. A) describe the setting. (B) explain it contribution to the mood in the story
what literary devices were used in the story?
So what was the relationship between the two characters .
How does the story ensure that our sense of the man changes over the course of the encounter ?
What is the type of ending in the story?
I would say it is unsatisfactory. With the white woman’s bias coming to the forefront.
why did the man stay even after the argument?
What technique would you say the writer uses to portray racism?
How was prejudice demonstrated in Blackout?
What caused the blackout
Where is the general setting
Why do you think the woman is not afraid to be alone on such a dark night?
What do you think is the theme of the story?
What is the conflict in the story the Blackout?
1. She may think the streets are hers.
2. The main theme is racism.
3. I deal with conflict in the first paragraph of the post.
How is racism a product of social pressure
what is the reasons surrounding the plot or the reason the story was written. What was happening at the time? How did the setting affect the characters in the plot?
What are some narrative techniques found in this story?
Also, what are some symbols and motifs in the story?
Hi! I got this question as a part of my assignment, can you help me out?
6. There is evident conflict between the two major characters. How does the setting contribute to this conflict in response. A) describe the setting. (B) explain its contribution to the mood in the story.
DESCRIBE THEBLACK MAN
What lesson can be learnt from the story?
Why did the American woman respected the young black man
Explore the themes above.
Race, Equality, connection, fear, class,
Hey,
What are Three examples of direct characterization and Three examples of indirect characterization?
What is the fear in the story
Give examples of the CONFLICTS found in the prose:
How does the narrator describe the town where the story is set
Its very Helpful.. thank you so much
12. What effect does Mais achieve by giving us access to the
woman’s consciousness, but not the man’s?
He may be giving society’s point of view.
Give examples of the CONFLICTS found in the prose:
a. MAN VS. HIMSELF
b. MAN VS. HIMSELF
c. MAN VS. MAN
d. MAN VS. MAN
What is the type of conflict in this story? man vs man or man vs himself or man vs society?
What effect does mais achieve by giving us access to the woman’s consciousness, but not the man’s?
How does the story ensure that our sense of the man changes over the course of the encounter and does the final paragraph of the story alter our understanding of what this encounter means?
What is a moral of the story?
I don’t have a question but I’m really grateful and would like to express my gratitude, thank you this helped me out a lot,thanks again!!
why was the story called blackout?
How does the last paragraph of the story alter the meaning/message of ‘Blackout’?
How does Roger Mais achieve characterization of the two major characters?
what narrative technique is used and it’s effectiveness in each story.
How does Roger Mais achieve characterization of two major characters???
can u please explain the theme of equality how is it in the story?
who is the main character in the story the man, the woman or both of them ???
how would you describe the African American in the story ????
how does the setting impact the characterization of the characters ?
What character trait describes the main character?
Based on his/her character traits, explain why the character acted the way he did.
Think about the main character’s traits. Give an example of a situation where these traits would be helpful.
If you could assign the main character a different trait, what trait would you give him? Why?
How would this narrative had been different if the main character had different character traits?
What are the character traits of both the Black man and the white woman?
Explain the nature of the challenge that he encounters
What’s the significance of the setting in the development of the story?
Where is the setting because to me to sounds like Jamaica
Explain the literal and figurative interpretation of the title of the story blackout
A literal blackout means no light or lights. It is completely dark. A figurative meaning for the title may be black out. The woman does not like black people.
Why was the lady not willing to give the man a light???
Why was the man smoking half a cigarette???
Why did the woman throw the cigarette away???
what is the conflict of the story?
what is the climax?
how was the story resolve?
what was the plot of the story?
what is the rising and falling action?
What would suggest to us that the woman is free from racist attitudes?
Compare the two societies mentioned in the story blackout. Show whether they have changed or they have remained the same. Please note that you must know and mention what these societies were like during the period mentioned in the story.
What does the “cigarette” symbolize in the story?
Identify and explain the central theme in ‘Blackout’
What is learn about each character?
How does the story ensure that our sense of the man changes over the course of the encounter?
What are your thoughts on the characters and how they were presented?
Taking the black man. I think the fact he is not given a voice in the story (inner thoughts) may be representative of how minorities are treated. As for the white woman. She is aloof and self-centred.
WHAT LESSON DOES THE STORY SERVES TO TEACH?
What did the woman learn at the end of her conversation with the man?
Identify two (2) themes evident in the story and state how 1 of the themes identified is manifested in the story.
1. She did not like him because of the colour of his skin.
2.Race and Inequality.
explain the injustice done in blackout
the point of view of black out?
What morals are in the story?
literary devices please i really need them
which incident describes prejudice in this story?
What effect does Roger Mais achieve by giving us access to the woman’s consciousness, but not the man’s ?
What effect does Mais achieve by giving us access to the woman’s consciousness, but not the man’s ?
Analyse the ways in which race gender and class affect the balance of power between the two people in the story (American girl and west indies boy)
1. What effect does Mais achieve by giving us access to the woman’s consciousness, but not the man’s?
2. How does the story ensure that our sense of the man changes over the course of the encounter?
3. Does the final paragraph of the story alter our understanding of what this encounter means?
What are the feelings of the young American woman ?