🫐Berry – Langston Hughes

Subject Matter

This narrative revolves around Milberry Jones, also affectionately known as Berry, a young boy from Newark City. Employed as a kitchen boy at Dr. Renfield’s House for Crippled Children, Berry’s diligence and kindness endear him to both staff and children. Ironically, his loving interaction with a child leads to his dismissal, and he returns to Newark City in a destitute state, creating a poignant sense of pathos in the story.

Plot

The sequence of events unfolds as follows:

1. Berry arrives in New Jersey from Georgia, eager to work at Dr. Renfield’s Home for Crippled Children.
2. Mrs. Osborn immediately assigns him kitchen duties, and she consults with Dr. Renfield about his sleeping arrangements.
3. Berry is secluded in the attic, away from white workers.
4. Despite hard work, Berry is unjustly blamed for a child’s accident, leading to his dismissal without his last week’s wages.
5. The story concludes with Berry’s return to Newark City, hungry and destitute, mirroring his initial state upon arrival.

Conflict

The central conflict revolves around Berry versus society, particularly the superior Whites who unjustly blame and dismiss him. The narrative sheds light on the racial disparities and challenges Berry faces in the racially prejudiced society of the time.

Significance of the Title

The title, “Berry,” holds significance as it places the focus on the main character, emphasizing Langston Hughes’ intent to spotlight the plight of a poor young man from Newark City. The title underscores the contrast between the rejection Berry faces from adults and the genuine love and affection bestowed upon him by the children, who lovingly shorten his name.

Setting

The story unfolds in America on the New Jersey Coast during the 1920s-1967, specifically at Dr. Renfield’s Summer Home for Crippled Children. The secluded beach location, five miles from the nearest railroad, adds to the isolation and exploitation faced by Berry. The setting underscores the racial and societal challenges prevalent during this period, contributing to Berry’s unfortunate circumstances.

Characters

The main characters in this story are Milberry Jones (Berry), Mrs. Osborn, and Dr. Renfield, with minor characters including nurses like Miss Baxter and Mrs. Hill, the handyman, physically challenged children, and Martha Renfield.

1. Milberry Jones (Berry): Berry, a poor, uneducated African American boy from Georgia, faced limited educational opportunities due to the scarcity of schools for negroes. Having “been hungry for weeks in Newark and Jersey City”, he secured a job as a kitchen boy at a home for crippled children on the South Coast, USA. Berry is characterized as caring, good-natured, strong, and gentle. He diligently rose at 5:30 every morning and “made the fire for the cook, set the water to boiling for the head nurse’s coffee, and started peeling potatoes, onions, and apples.”. Unlike their scanty regard for other prejudiced adults in the home, the children love Berry for his compassionate nature, and his penchant for engaging them with stories, games, rides, and jokes.

2. Mrs. Osborne: Functioning as the housekeeper at the children’s home, Mrs. Osborne is presumed to harbor romantic feelings for Dr. Renfield. Her character is depicted with racist tendencies, evident in her queries to Dr. Renfield regarding negro Berry’s accommodations and the duration of his stay. She questioned whether they should retain him for the entire summer or “get someone else.”

3. Dr. Renfield: Dr. Renfield is portrayed as a figure of selfishness, insensitivity, cruelty, and racial bias. His ownership of the home for crippled children appears motivated by profit rather than a genuine commitment to aiding the resident children. In a particularly heartless incident, when a smaller child falls, with Berry bearing no fault, Dr. Renfield instructs Mrs. Osborne to “get rid” of Berry and deduct all of his wages. This decision is made despite Berry’s exemplary work ethic and the affection he enjoys from all the children due to his kindness. Dr. Renfield’s use of derogatory terms such as “fool nigger” and “darkie” vividly exposes his prejudiced attitude towards Berry solely based on the color of his skin.

Themes

Some prominent themes in this story include racism/racial prejudice, alienation, rejection, appearance versus reality, and oppression/injustice. Let’s delve into the exploration of these themes:

1. Racism: The ominous presence of racism is announced in the story’s inception: “When the boy arrived on the four o’clock train, lo and behold, he turned out to be colored!” The deliberate choice of “colored” over Milberry Jones’ name serves to diminish him to merely the color of his skin. The subsequent exclamation, “Lo and behold¹something that you say when you tell someone about something surprising that happened…” intensifies the shock and disappointment surrounding the arrival of a Black individual to work among Whites.
   
   Mrs. Osborn’s dismay is palpable as she acknowledges the impracticality of sending Berry back to Newark City immediately, lamenting, “there was nothing to be done about it that night – with no trains back to the city before morning.” The racial dimension is underscored by her admission, “her wire to the employment office in Jersey City brought results— but dark ones.” The use of “but” emphasizes her disappointment at Berry being a Negro. The racial disparity is further highlighted when Berry receives $2.00 less than his White predecessor, revealed when Dr. Renfield instructs Mrs. Osborn to pay him $8 instead of the previous $10.
   
   The theme of racism deepens as Dr. Renfield casually refers to Milberry as a “darkie.” His nonchalant demeanor is evident in his response to Mrs. Osborn’s inquiry about Milberry’s wages: “Well, pay the darkie eight,” despite the previous kitchen boy receiving $10 weekly. The culmination of racial injustice occurs when, following an accident involving a child, Dr. Renfield hastily attributes blame to Berry. In a heartless act, he sends him away without his week’s wages, leaving him penniless and hungry in Newark City, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and destitution. This portrayal poignantly underscores the insidious nature of racism and its devastating impact on Berry’s life.

2. Alienation and Rejection: The theme of alienation and rejection serves as accompaniment to the prevailing racist attitudes within the home. This becomes glaringly evident when Dr. Renfield and Mrs. Osborn relegate Berry to sleep in the attic, deliberately segregating him from the white servants. Their action implies a judgment of Berry’s worthiness; one where he is deemed unfit to share quarters with the other servants. Consequently, interactions with him are limited to the scope of work, reflecting a broader theme of social exclusion.
   
   This theme is further accentuated through the behavior of other white workers who not only subject Berry to an excessive workload but also abstain from defending him when he faces unjust dismissal by Dr. Renfield. The collective portrayal underscores the pervasive alienation and rejection Berry experiences within the home, emphasizing the harsh consequences of deeply rooted racial prejudices.

3. Appearance vs. Reality: The theme of appearance versus reality is vividly illustrated through the contrasting treatment of the children at the school. Despite the institution’s façade of care and concern, the reality is that the children are generally ill-treated and provided with inferior-quality food, reflecting the profit-centric motive of the home. The stark dichotomy becomes even more apparent when the children’s parents visit, as they are then treated with utmost consideration, receiving the best quality foods.
   
   Berry astutely perceives the discrepancy, expressing his suspicion that there’s “something phoney about the whole house.” His observation accentuates the inconsistency in the quality of care provided to the children. He remarks on the irony, noting, “funny how the food ain’t nearly so good ‘cept when some ma or pa or some chile is visitin’ here—then when they gone, it drops right back down again.” Berry’s words expose the deception and pretense inherent in the conduct of the nurses, cooks, and administrators. The narrator further underscores this revelation, stating, “Milberry worked in the kitchen and saw the good cans opened for company and the cheap cans opened for the kids.” This portrayal unveils the insensitivity of those in charge, emphasizing their lack of genuine concern for the children’s well-being, masked by a façade of exemplary care presented to the parents.

Narrative Style

The narrative unfolds in chronological order, commencing with Berry’s arrival in New Jersey via the 4 o’clock train. Mrs. Osborn, the white housekeeper, promptly greets him at the station and whisks him away to commence his work in the kitchen of the home. As the story progresses, readers witness Berry’s industrious efforts, assisting the cook, waitresses, handyman, and nurses with their respective tasks. The narrative also beautifully captures the genuine connections Berry forges with the children, who quickly develop a deep affection for him.

Towards the conclusion, a momentous incident occurs when a child falls from his wheelchair. Despite the child escaping unscathed, Berry becomes the scapegoat for the mishap. The story concludes with Berry unjustly dismissed and sent back to Newark City, stripped of his week’s wages. This chronological storytelling effectively exposes the series of injustices inflicted upon Berry within a concise timeframe due to racial prejudice at the home.

Point of View

The narrative unfolds through a third-person perspective, skillfully employed by Langston Hughes. This choice enables readers to delve into the thoughts and emotions of key characters. By adopting this omniscient viewpoint, the audience gains insight into Berry’s sentiments, while simultaneously being privy to the racist thoughts and feelings harbored by Dr. Renfield, Mrs. Osborn, and other white characters.

Devices

1. Simile: Describing Berry as “Like a big gentle horse,” Hughes employs this simile to portray Berry’s physical stature juxtaposed with his affectionate and kind nature, akin to a gentle horse.

2. Irony: A notable instance of irony emerges when Dr. Renfield labels Berry’s situation as “criminal carelessness.” The irony lies in Dr. Renfield’s own reprehensible treatment of the children under his care, as he mistreats them in the absence of their parents while using their funds to offer preferential treatment to visitors.

3. Repetition: The recurrence of terms such as ‘black, coloured, Negro, nigger, and dark’ underscores the thematic focus on racism. This repetition serves to emphasize the pervasive racial undertones within the narrative.

4. Symbol: The attic, where Berry sleeps, serves as a symbolic representation of his rejection by the white inhabitants. Isolated in this attic, Berry becomes a poignant symbol of alienation and disdain.

5. Foreshadowing: The wheelchair incident, where a child falls, subtly foreshadows Berry’s impending downfall. This incident becomes a catalyst for his unjust dismissal, unraveling the narrative’s tragic turn of events.

Diction

The narrative employs a diverse linguistic palette, seamlessly weaving together Standard English, Non-standard English, and dialect. The narration adheres to Standard English, providing a formal backdrop. However, the characters engage in dialogues that reflect distinct linguistic varieties. White characters predominantly use Standard English, with occasional forays into Non-standard English. In contrast, Berry expresses himself in dialect, underscoring socio-economic and educational distinctions among the characters. This linguistic diversity enriches the narrative, offering a nuanced portrayal of each character’s background and societal standing.

Tone

The author’s tone resonates with deep sympathy towards Berry, evoking a strong sense of pathos for this hardworking, affectionate individual. Berry’s character is meticulously portrayed as diligent and kind, facing the harsh reality of being overworked by the nurses and others, culminating in an undeserved dismissal without wages. The overarching tone is one of compassion and understanding for the challenges faced by the protagonist.

Mood

A pervasive sense of sadness permeates the narrative, stemming from Berry’s poignant interactions with the racially prejudiced white workers. The writer skillfully crafts an atmosphere of sorrow, underscoring the workers’ lack of appreciation for Berry’s labor and compassion. The mood intensifies as Berry is callously sent home without his rightfully earned wages, amplifying the emotional weight of the story.

Writer’s Purpose

Langston Hughes appears to wield this narrative as a tool to spotlight societal prejudice. The disdainful treatment of Berry by the white characters, marked by dislike, overwork, and underpayment due to his racial background, serves as a poignant commentary. Hughes skillfully conveys the injustice that hinders Berry’s societal elevation despite his unwavering diligence, kindness, and thoughtfulness towards the children and fellow workers at the home.

The Message

Embedded in the narrative is a compelling message advocating for judgment based on character rather than skin color. Hughes implores readers to recognize the inherent humanity in others, emphasizing the need for love, affection, and acceptance. The story underscores the stark contrast between the unbiased nature of children, who judge on merit, and some prejudiced adults, highlighting the importance of sensitivity towards others’ feelings. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a powerful call for a more compassionate and egalitarian society.