James Baldwin is an Epic Poet Essay -- Notes of a Native Son

James Baldwin Epic PoetWhen studying serviceman beings through the arts and literature one can?t foster but notice that every civilization has a famous narration or an epical poem. The epic marks the beginning of classical civilization in that it was the first form of literature to be written down from vocal tradition. The epic tells of the glory of a caller, of its? founding from the ruin of another or tells us of the experiences of a beloved hero. The common trait of any epic poem or narrative lies in the tragic hero, or the master(prenominal) character of the story. The hero represents a more than average member of society with a tragic fatal flaw. The narration ends with the hero?s declivity at the hands of this fatal flaw which reminds us of our weak human nature. The tragic downfall of the hero does not always manifest itself in the hero?s expiry but sometimes in his recognition of a hard truth. Western culture has romanticized these heroes in more than and literature but in everyday spiritedness. I couldn?t foster but notice the characteristics of a tragic hero manifest themselves in a young James Baldwin as I read his bear witness ?Notes of a Native Son.? In this 20th century essay Baldwin as the author uses the narrative of his experiences around the time of his father?s death to analyze his feelings on family, race and culture. Baldwin?s composition flows brilliantly between narrative and analysis in an almost epic fashion. Through my writing I would like to analyze the epic of the young James Baldwin and opine what truths are hidden in the framework of Baldwin?s marvelous tale. later on his fathers? death Baldwin reflects on him through stories and scenes of social unrest. In order to bring in the character of James Baldwin we must first unde... ...He is forced to usurp life as it is, an unjust world in which father and son, black and clean-living cannot see each other as equals. One must accept this w orld because failure to accept it leads to hatred and despair and as we bring seen hatred led to the destruction of his father. But on the same attribute he outlines another hard truth which is that one must not accept the sleaziness with lowered eyes, one must fight injustices. We as humans experience this sad reality everyday as the epic of human life and through his words at the end of the essay James realizes his humanity as well. We must all accept injustice but at the same time fight to change it, that is our tariff that we owe to our fellow humans. Works CitedBaldwin, James. ?Notes of a Native Son.? 1955. James Baldwin accumulate Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York Library of America, 1998. 63-84.