This work deals with double consciousness in contemporary African American crime fiction. [...] In order to find out what characterizes African American crime fiction, or at least a part of it, and where it can be settled in this large field, two selected novels, Chester Himes’ Cotton Comes To Harlem and Walter Mosley’s Devil In A Blue Dress will be analyzed in the background of the concept of “double consciousness”, a term which was coined by W.E.B. Du Bois in his work The Souls of Black Folk in the early 20th century. [...]
Light will be shed on the generic features of the novels, such as the plot, the narrative structure, the imagery and the constellation of the characters. Afterwards a short outline of the development of the detective novel shall be sketched to provide the reader with a necessary knowledge which will help during the analysis of the works. [...] The thesis of this paper is that double consciousness is an omnipresent element in the selected works and that it shapes each character differently in a way that it might lead either to success or failure. Depending on how the specific character is able to recognize his/her own two consciousnesses, this awareness forms the character’s development in the plot and what he/she achieves in the end.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The detective novel
3 Double consciousness
4 Works discussed
4.1 Himes’ Cotton comes to Harlem
4.2 Mosley’s Devil in a Blue Dress
5 Diving into Devil In A Blue Dress
5.1 Plot
5.2 characters
5.3 Narrative style
5.4 Imagery
6 Diving into Cotton Comes To Harlem
6.1 Plot
6.2 Characters
6.3 Narrative structure
6.4 Imagery
7 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the manifestation and impact of W.E.B. Du Bois' concept of "double consciousness" within contemporary African American crime fiction, specifically focusing on how this duality shapes character development, narrative structure, and the protagonists' navigation of systemic racial oppression.
- Analysis of double consciousness as a psychological and social phenomenon.
- Exploration of genre conventions in hard-boiled detective fiction.
- Comparative study of Chester Himes’ "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and Walter Mosley’s "Devil in a Blue Dress".
- Evaluation of race, invisibility, and violence as thematic elements.
- Investigation of character agency and identity formation within marginalized communities.
Excerpt from the Book
5.2 characters
Easy is the detective in Mosley’s novel. He has just returned from WWII where he fought in Europe against white Nazi soldiers and afterwards moves to Los Angeles, Watts where he hopes for a new life. Though Los Angeles seems to be a haven for Southern African Americans it does not turn out to be a paradise at all:
California was like heaven for the Southern Negro. People told stories of how you could eat fruit right off the trees and get enough work to retire one day. The stories were true for the most part but the truth wasn’t like the dream. Life was still hard in L.A. and if you worked every day you still found yourself on the bottom. (Devil 34)
His hope for upward mobility is reflected in his pride of his own house. To Easy, this means representing something in the white world. It is also this pride that lets him agree to Albright’s deal, as Kennedy states: “Easy is drawn into the complex relationship with Albright as much through male pride as through economic need” (Kennedy 233). This point is confirmed by Easy himself: “Whether he knew it or not, DeWitt Albright had caught me by my own pride” (Devil 20). One can say that his “male pride” and his “economic need” are two elements which both refer to and have thus as source the element of ‘race’ in a triangular relationship: “[…] it is the black American’s manhood that the myths and rituals of white society are determined to deny or destroy” (Bell 175). White society’s oppression of the African American, and especially the male African American, is also a criticism on his potency.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, introducing the concept of double consciousness in the context of contemporary African American crime fiction.
2 The detective novel: An overview of the evolution of the detective genre, moving from British mystery to hard-boiled American fiction, is provided to establish a framework for analysis.
3 Double consciousness: The theoretical foundation based on W.E.B. Du Bois’ "The Souls of Black Folk" is explored, detailing the conflict of "two-ness" and identity.
4 Works discussed: This section provides context for the two primary texts, detailing the publication history and critical reception of novels by Chester Himes and Walter Mosley.
5 Diving into Devil In A Blue Dress: This chapter conducts a detailed analysis of Mosley’s work, examining plot, character duality, and the significance of urban settings.
6 Diving into Cotton Comes To Harlem: A deep dive into Himes’ novel, focusing on the role of violence, narrative style, and the trickster figure within the Harlem community.
7 Conclusion: The study concludes by synthesizing how double consciousness serves as a critical lens to understand the success or failure of characters in their respective worlds.
Keywords
Double consciousness, African American literature, Crime fiction, Hard-boiled, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Identity, Race, Invisibility, Violence, Narrative structure, Ethnicity, Marginalization, Social injustice, Trickster
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic work?
The work investigates the presence and influence of W.E.B. Du Bois' theory of "double consciousness" within modern African American detective fiction.
What are the primary themes explored in the text?
Central themes include the intersection of race and crime, the socio-political context of the Harlem and Los Angeles urban environments, the subversion of genre stereotypes, and the psychological impact of living with a dual identity.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The aim is to determine how African American detectives reconcile their internal self-perception with the external perceptions imposed by a white-dominated society while maintaining their integrity and achieving their goals.
Which methodology is employed in the analysis?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, drawing on historical and theoretical texts to interpret plot developments, character arcs, and narrative techniques in two selected novels.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the evolution of the hard-boiled detective genre, details the theoretical framework of double consciousness, and provides in-depth textual analyses of "Devil in a Blue Dress" and "Cotton Comes to Harlem."
Which keywords summarize the content?
Key terms include double consciousness, hard-boiled, identity, racial stigmatization, invisibility, and literary genre deconstruction.
How does the role of the "detective" change in these novels compared to traditional fiction?
Unlike traditional white detectives who may operate with social immunity, the African American detectives in these works must constantly navigate systemic racism, often forced to adopt personas or "trickster" tactics to survive and succeed.
How is the concept of "invisibility" interpreted in these works?
Invisibility is framed as both a burden of being ignored or marginalized and a strategic tool that allows the detective to operate undercover, effectively becoming a "trickster" who can move through different social strata.
What specific impact does the setting have on the plot?
The urban setting acts as a stage where the power dynamics of the slave-slaveholder relationship are mirrored; for example, Harlem and Watts are described as spaces where the struggle for dignity and survival is physically and psychologically manifested.
What is the significance of the "Double consciousness" in the conclusion?
The conclusion suggests that successful characters are those who are aware of their "two-ness" and treat their second identity as an "invisible mask," whereas those who fail are often unable to manage or control this duality effectively.
- Quote paper
- Kristof Hoppen (Author), 2008, The (double) Consciousness in African American crime fiction - Popular literature as platform for social criticism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/112119
