Moral Fiber

Wright’s depicts Jack as an overbearing, contentious, and boorish individual that is struggling to survive in the midst of depression and poverty. His inflexible belief that he always is right is reflected in his sudden outbursts of rage resulting from anything that makes him uncomfortable. This is evident when he continues to “egg” Lily so that he would be “impelled to slap her” (15). Jack’s patriarchal complex and need to show his supremacy is further expressed when he berates Lily for his lost razor, and even upon the realization that he misplaced it in the first place, repeatedly calls her a “deaf, dumb bitch” and accuses her of cheating on him (22).

Jack’s ignorance towards life, society, and religion is revealed through his vacillating stance on these issues. This is specifically evident in his views concerning God.

Jack: “Gawd’s hooey! It’s a gyp game, that’s all!”
Lily: “You blaspheming Gawd!”
Jack: “So what?” (31)

It was interesting to follow and compare what Jack said to Lily in the kitchen with the fearsome four’s discussion and apparent veneration of God in the squirrel cage:

“...His wonders to perform…”
“…and Gawd rewarded ‘em”
“You’ll get your reward if you do right.”
“Gawd sees to that. He’s done figgered out all kind of ways to reward folks”
“And He can punish you, too”
…”Yeah, he evens up everything.”(165-167)

Jack’s inconsistent character is conveyed through his sycophantic actions when he appears before the board and barely escapes with his job, and his open disregard for authority as he openly disdains the floor manager who as a result demerits Jack.

Through the first two sections, it is hard to sympathize with Jack. Although Jack is overwhelmed with debt and is struggling to make a living, his arrogance and self-righteous disposition makes him appear antagonistic, and just unlikable. It is interesting that Wright would choose to depict his main character in such a negative light, despite his adherence to realism.