Chester Himes: Experiences Stirred His Thought and His Pen

Authors

• Chanté Calais

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Abstract

An effort to research the relationship between personal experience and the imaginative work of Chester Himes, this report explores the family life and experiences that fuel the apocalyptic theme of Himes‟ short story, “Prediction.” The confused and anxious feelings of the main character, alone in a small chamber containing the collection box of a Cathedral, parallels with the position of uncertainty in Chester Himes‟ own life. While black inferiority and white dominance are depicted throughout the pages of his short story, the underlying need for change is present as well. Just as Himes‟ character believes that the only solution for this problem is for a black person to martyr himself against whites, Himes also believes that by making a stand one can gain equality but lose a life. This scholarly note is the result of deeper analysis of an assignment that fulfilled the research project in English 1023H, Introduction to Literature for Honors Students.\102

Recommended Citation

Calais, Chanté (2009) "Chester Himes: Experiences Stirred His Thought and His Pen," XULAneXUS: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.xula.edu/xulanexus/vol6/iss1/7