Darissa Reyes
English 1D
Prof. Buettner
24 March , 2015 Like a Winding Sheet
In Ann Petry's "Like a Winding Sheet", we see a black man mind abducted by the disease called racism, which he tries to overcome by applying the values put upon him by his family. Having been living with racism so long, he struggles to continue to fight for his family beliefs. "Like a Winding Sheet" is about a Blackman name Mr. Johnson who lives with his wife Mae. They both work the night shift, in a labor plant. Johnson is always late for work because the aches in his legs. One Friday on the thirteen day of the month, Johnson went to work and got chewed up by his boss for being late. Then Johnson got rejected at the all-night-restaurant by the coffee lady. Every time someone rejects or come off inappropriate, Johnson looks at the situation as a racial insult and gets extremely mad. The only way to control his anger is the values bestowed on him by his family's upbringings. Can his family's values hold value when his anger gets unbearable?
Johnson’s gentle spirit is displayed to the reader at the start of the story. Petry illustrates this in the way that “he planned to get up before Mae did and surprise her by fixing breakfast.” “He lay there smiling and savoring the sweet sound of Mae’s giggling,” serves as additional evidence of Johnson’s appeal to the audience early on. Johnson’s character is viewed as a man that is kind to his wife, conscious of his anger, yet controlling of it nonetheless. They banter like any married couple, but Johnson remains calm and loving. Though irritated by his white female boss, he maintains composure, evidence of appeared self control. She is cruel with her derogatory terms, yet Johnson “forced himself to swallow his anger” Minimal foreshadowing is noticed as the story opens of the horrific ending that was to come. Though Johnson feels defeated and burned out, it is not expected that his rage would come through on the woman he loves dearly. “He wasn’t made that way,” the author explains, as a comparison to all the other seemingly lowly men. As the story progresses, however, the sugar coating is peeled away and Johnson unfolds to become an angry man who people should fear.
There is a constant ache in Johnson’s legs he is unable to get rid of that presents itself to be an important and reoccurring topic. This results in resentment and aggravation to build up inside of him as his faulty nature is progressively disclosed. Petry describes the pain as frequent and unbearable - from the time he wakes, throughout the standing shift, and unchanging on the crowded subway ride home. “The pain in his legs clawed up into his groin, so that he seemed to be bursting”. It’s the first of multiple factors influencing the censorship of his repressed anxiety. Due to Johnson’s status in society, he has been left with little room for social advancement in his predetermined lifestyle. Johnson’s day is focused around a strict routine: waking up, working hard, sleeping light. Doing the same thing day after day , along with his steady pain, seems to justify his bitter spirit. The reader sympathizes with Johnson amid phrases including, “endless hours of steady walking on his aching legs” that tap into the audiences’ emotions. His thoughts are not hidden or even made pretty. The fury is evident in the way he longs to yell, use his fists, and fight back.
As the story progresses Johnsons anger becomes more and more obvious. His anger is growing stronger and stronger , yet he is somehow understood. Resources for this sub population are scarce at this time; people are desperate for each and every commodity. “Just the smell of coffee lessened the fatigue,” describes a scene in which even the slightest luxury brings the greatest pleasure. When she announces none is left, the