George Dawson And Glaubman's Life Is So Good

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Humanity has a habit of creating an antagonist through ideas and concepts, rather than a physical character. Racism and discrimination have become one of the most apparent antagonistic ideas. This previously was a very prominent problem, and although has declined through the years, is still an issue. George Dawson and Richard Glaubman’s, Life Is So Good, perfectly portrays the grip racism has on various places throughout 20th century America. Additionally, it demonstrates the length at which ideas can harm others. The idea of discriminating one race causes normal human interactions to become fearful, as well as violent physical fights to occur. In George Dawson and Richard Glaubman’s Life Is So Good, the antagonist is the prejudice created by racism, as illustrated by the fear instilled in normal human interactions, vulnerability while traveling, and finally the physical violence exhibited, to reveal humanity’s tendency of creating it’s own unnecessary antagonist. The intimidation racism creates makes normal human to human interactions with a person of another race something to fear, as seen in George’s interactions with various people in his travels. The social hierarchy of races acts as an opposing force to George by inflicting intimidation when merely talking to an individual of another race. This is none more demonstrated when George claims that he “knew enough to be worried” to see white men approaching his farm, portraying that the fear of interaction with another race is already programmed into him(Dawson 33). The stigma of racism constructs the way George understands the world, and he holds on to that for a long time. His antagonist, racism, sticks with him as he travels from place to place. For example, in his travels to Mexico, he declines to drink from a white man’s glass despite the equality there, demonstrating the grasp that discrimination held over him(Dawson 136). Additionally, he learns the degree of racism’s influence in various places. More importantly, he learns this through key social interactions in his travels. Traveling exposes one of George’s vulnerabilities to racism, apparent through the ways people take advantage of him. The increased difficulty in traveling for African Americans leads to unequal opportunities, and definitely serves as an opposing force for George. For one, George has to ride in the “colored section”, illustrating that he is treated as a third class …show more content…
Intimidation from a young age inspires the way the youth thinks. For example, when George witnesses the hanging of Pete at an early age, it illustrates the first real violent memory of his antagonist, racism(Dawson 11). This violence shapes the way he thinks for a very long time. However, this is not the only apparent violence. George, is told to stay on the “safe roads” in fear of the brutal and homicidal Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating the unfortunate need to take time out of his journey to avoid being attacked(Dawson 112). The KKK utilizes racism as an opposing force against African Americans. Not only does the KKK serve as an antagonist, but normal people utilizing racism as well. For example, this occurs when the men at the North Oklahoma ranch threaten to assault George for breaking the horse, exhibiting even more obstacles against George(Dawson 196). The threat of physical violence is enough to stop George from reaching his full potential. All of this violence additionally works as dramatic physical conflicts to enhance the interest of his

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