Literary Analysis of the Themes Presents in The Watsons go to Birmingham
Introduction
Over the summer, I had the privilege of reading “The Watsons go to Birmingham,” written by Christopher Paul Curtis. The author presents a character-driven story that offers the audience a piece of family life through Kenny’s eyes. Our class was challenged to completing a literary analysis to highlight the themes that were showcased in the literary masterpiece. Throughout the essay, I will provide textual evidence to show that the author, Christopher Paul Curtis, was teaching the theme of family, maturing, and racism through his vividly detailed character’s experiences
Family
The overreaching theme of this novel is that of family. Throughout the novel, the reader can see that love between them in many ways. The father and mother are kind parents with caring hearts, but willing to take extreme measures to help Byron before he became worse. When they felt it was difficult to control Byron, they decide to let him stay with his grandmother in Birmingham, who would bring him to his senses. Though the siblings often got into skirmishes, they consistently defended each other. For instance, Byron ensured that no one picks on Kenny at school (Curtis 17). Also, Kenny tried to defend Byron from their mother’s punishment when Byron played with matches.
Throughout the novel, Byron and Kenny had a kind of love-hate relationship that oscillated between Byron bullying Kenny and him protecting and being kind to him. The two brothers could fight, but when Kenny needed help the most, Byron was there to save him from drowning. For instance, when Byron became stuck in the car’s side mirror, Kenny did not take advantage of the situation and instead willingly helped him (Curtis 11). This relationship between the two brothers shows how a caring family can help a person going through a challenging time. The author brings out a realistic family trying to cope with various conflicts, mainly the parents’ struggle to bring up Byron to a well-behaved young man with strong values.
Maturing
The process of growing up has a lot to do with figuring out what is real and what is not. In many ways, the “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” shows the growing up of the two brothers, Byron and Kenny. The 1960s was a tumultuous time, but the Watsons seemed sheltered and safe in Flint. However, by the end of their trip to Birmingham, both Byron and Kenny had gotten the experience of the real world first-hand. According to the novel, Byron and Kenny witnessed death and had to learn that life is not always fun and games (Curtis 123). Kenny, in particular, had a hard when death became a reality. However, Byron, having grown into the role of big brother, helped Kenny understand that they have to go on with their lives even when bad things happen.
Kenny matured a bit differently. At the beginning of the story, he shoed his childish nature by teasing his brother and more or less being obedient. However, when he moved from his environment to Birmingham, he witnessed his brother Byron move to the rebellious phase. Kenney steps up to take his place, turning his back on his siblings and rushing to swim in dangerous waters. Additionally, Kenny had a crisis of identity after the bombing as he berates himself for not being as strong as Byron. In the end, Byron helps him move through the crisis, telling him, “Kenny, things ain’t ever going to be fair…But you just gotta understand that that’s the way it is and keep on steppin’” (Curtis 136).
Racism
Racism refers to discrimination or prejudice directed against a person based on belonging to a particular racial or ethnic group. In the novel, the theme of racism is strong throughout- perhaps appropriately for a book set during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In Flint, the family was not particularly affected by racism, unlike when they arrived at Birmingham. When Daniel and Wilona talked about how the South segregated African American people, it does not seem real to Kenny. However, when they went to Birmingham and Kenny experienced racism, he was deeply affected. He wondered how someone’s skin color, something entirely beyond individual control, can cause so much hate in others. Byron tried to explain it to him, saying, “I think they just let hate eat them up and turn them into monsters” (Curtis 134). There was violence that was directed at anyone and everyone who was African American. This violence was evident at the end of the book on the little girl who attended Sunday School. The Watsons had to face the issue head-on when they landed in Birmingham.
Conclusion
After analyzing this novel, it is evident how the author teaches various lessons through the theme of family, coming of age, and racism. In today’s modern world of convenience, it is easy for people to lose sight of what such people as the one portrayed in the story experienced. Providing textual evidence to support these themes helped me gain new respect for these characters because they overcame so much. I would highly recommend reading “The Watsons go to Birmingham” because it teaches some powerful life lessons that everyone needs to learn.
Works Cited
Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963. Yearling, 2013.