Besides the novel and the autobiography, the memoir has become very popular, especially in the United States. What makes a memoir special? What are the key aspects the writer of a memoir has to observe? And what is it that differentiates the memoir from a simple novel or an autobiography? In our seminar “Contemporary American Novels”, we dealt with some recent outcomes that talk about different subjects – growing up with a divided inheritance, dealing with a rape and overcoming the death of a beloved person. In this term paper, I will take a closer look at the first subject, namely growing up with a divided inheritance, and memoir we read – “The Color of Water” by James McBride. To analyse several different issues that are raised in this book, I will compare it to another memoir, which also deals with the subject of growing up as a part of two different cultures. “Dreams from My Father” was written by the senator-elect from Illinois Barack Obama in the year 1995 and describes his life as the son of a white mother and a black father – just as James McBride. Firstly, I will discuss the theoretical conditions of the memoir as a genre on the basis of the three questions given above. Afterwards, I will go over to the two memoirs that shall be analysed. Since both authors grew up in almost the same time of racial discrimination a short introduction on the historical background of the two memoirs will be given. This is followed by a detailed analysis on different issues that are treated in the two memoirs: The relationship between Barack and his father compared to the relationship of James and his mother, as well as how the subjects of race and identity as they are experienced by the two authors. I will conclude this thesis in the final chapter.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Memoirs and Autobiographies
- Historical Context of the two Memoirs
- Comparing "Dreams from My Father" and "The Color of Water"
- Father-Son / Mother-Son Relationship
- Mixed Race
- Struggling with Identity
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the theme of growing up with a divided inheritance by comparing Barack Obama's "Dreams from My Father" and James McBride's "The Color of Water." It examines the genre of memoir, contrasting it with autobiography, and explores the historical context influencing both narratives. The analysis focuses on the authors' experiences with identity formation, racial discrimination, and their relationships with their parents.
- The memoir as a literary genre and its distinctions from autobiography.
- The impact of racial discrimination on the lives of the authors.
- The complexities of identity formation in multiracial backgrounds.
- Intergenerational relationships and their influence on personal development.
- The use of memoir as a tool for personal reflection and therapeutic expression.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the focus on exploring the theme of a divided inheritance through the lens of the two selected memoirs. Chapter 2 delves into the genre of memoir, differentiating it from autobiography, and discussing its popularity and the challenges of authenticity in representing personal experiences. Chapter 3 provides historical context, focusing on the socio-political climate of the time and place where both authors lived.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Memoir, autobiography, racial identity, divided inheritance, intergenerational relationships, historical context, cultural identity, personal reflection, "Dreams from My Father," "The Color of Water."
- Citation du texte
- Eveline Podgorski (Auteur), 2007, Divided Inheritance, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119431
