The+Rockpile

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As James Baldwin wrote the short story,"The Rock Pile", he also tells the tale of his childhood. Born and raised in Harlem, James Baldwin often used his upbringing and home town as key pieces in his writing. He often used simple but descriptive to teach the reader a lesson based on his childhood experience. Beginning in the midst of violent Harlem, James Baldwin turned his life upside down.

He did so through the lesson of his strong single mother (1970’s). With her guidance James started his writing career in high school for his school paper. After his education, he remained in New York for sometime before moving to Paris where he eventually wrote his first novel, "Go Tell it on the Mountain". In the novel, Baldwin scripts the tale of a young man’s struggle growing up in Harlem. In fact, this novel was considered a loose autobiography (1970’s).

Years later he wrote a similar short story, "The Rock Pile" (Baldwin). This story too tells a story of a young man similar to Baldwin but takes a different aim. In this story, Baldwin praises the mother for restoring order in the household, after a young boy makes a mistake that causes uproar between the family members (enotes-themes). He also depicts the violence of the Harlem streets. Baldwin does this by explaining the violence at the rock pile (enotes-themes). “They fought on the rock pile sure-footed, dangerous, and reckless, they rushed each other and grappled on the heights, sometimes disappearing down the other side in a confusion of dust and screams and upending, flying feet” is the opening description of the rock pile, that actually describes the violence of the streets of Harlem (Baldwin). In the previous sentence, Baldwin uses a very simple order of wording and word chose to create the most vivid image for the reader. He maintains that style of imagery throughout the modernist story. The violence tied into the description is also tied into the modernism writing. Although Baldwin describes that of the Harlem streets, as compared to that of the war, he seems to have lost all faith. He states that “Other boys were to be seen there each afternoon after school and all day Saturday and Sunday,” implying that the violence never stopped (Baldwin).

Baldwin sought to change this and was eventually put on the cover of TIME magazine with the words “There is not another writer - white or black - who expresses with such poignancy and abrasiveness the dark realities of the racial ferment in the North and South” (1970’s). With his written efforts, in novels, short stories, and poetry, James Baldwin brought the change he wanted to Harlem (1970’s). Through his imagery and sincerity James Baldwin shaped modernist literature, and will forever remain Harlem hero.

Baldwin, James. "Insights: An Anthology of Short Stories." //Google Books//. Web. 03 May 2010. .

1970s, The Early. "James Baldwin Biography." //Biography.com//. Web. 03 May 2010. .

"The Rockpile Themes." //ENotes - Literature.// Web. 03 May 2010. .


 * Drew Lang:**

James Baldwin’s //The Rockpile// is a story that greatly illustrates Modernism. From the beginning to the end, the amount of Modernism within the story is amazing. The sheer amount of hopelessness, alienation, and loss of faith is more than noticeable within the story, as well as the author’s life that brought out his reasons for writing the story. The elements of Baldwin’s life and Modernism make //The Rockpile// an endearing work that is a textbook example of this particular period of literature.

The entire plotline seems to revolve around a child that is desperately helpless. From the beginning, it is made known that he is the stepson in a family that is related by blood, making him the odd one out. What is interesting is that this closely resembles Baldwin’s early life, in that he too was an illegitimate child that lived in Harlem (Novelguide), making this story somewhat of an auto-biographical one. The child, John, is raised by his abusive step-father, the minister of a church. This closely relates to Modernism in that it takes a step back to look at faith and religion outside of the normal boundaries.

It is as if Baldwin specifically meant for his story to be a staple of Modernism. It reeks of the stench of it from beginning to end and, whether or not one sees this as good or bad, it is a prime example of what Modernism is and represents. Every single aspect of the story seems to lend one more portion to the greater whole, and also gives the reader a look into the life of Baldwin.

“Failing to receive affection from his overworked mother and emotionally distant stepfather, Baldwin escaped into the world of literature, reading every book he could find. Throughout his public education, his own literary gifts were recognized and encouraged by influential people in his schools.” (Novelguide)

It is obvious from this passage that Baldwin was heavily influenced by his upbringing, and this is never more evident than in //The Rockpile//, which, as stated before, is almost auto-biographical of his upbringing. //The Rockpile// represents many things in Modernism, but it is no doubt one of the most modernistic stories that has been written.

Works Cited

"The Rockpile." //Novelguide: Free Study Guides, Free Book Summaries, Free Book Notes, & More//. 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. .