Tag: The Hate U Give

Home Turned Warzone – Bringing “The Hate U Give” to the Archetypal Literary Theory

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The Hate U Give – Analyzing the Archetypal Literary Theory

Throughout reading the novel “The Hate U Give”, many different literary theories can be derived, however today I will touch base on the Archetypal literary theory. The Archetypal theory can be best described as, “a typical or recurring image, character, narrative design, theme, or other literary phenomenon that has been in literature from the beginning and regularly appears” (Makaryk 508). Simply put, an archetype is a stereotype that may help the reader relate and connect more to the character in the novel. Various different archetypes can be found in the novel however, I will only be reflecting on two archetypes and one symbol.

Absence of a Father/Father Figure Archetype

The first archetype I will reflect on is both the absence of a father/father figure. This archetype can be labeled to Maverick, Starr’s father. Maverick fits most of the qualifications for being a typical father; dominant, protective, wise, provider, role-model. Though Maverick is a typical father, his ways of providing led him to be absent for three years of Starr’s life creating conflict within the family. Personally, I don’t think Maverick wanted the drug industry to be his way of protecting & providing for his family but it was rather something that at a very young age he was roped into. I believe Maverick could also be described as a choleric. He is hot-tempered, often times feisty & fiery and quick to react when irritated. The following quotes found on page 175 and 176 can show the conflict that was brought on due to the way Maverick chose to provide for his family,

“Then I became a daddy, and I realized that King Lord shit wasn’t worth dying for. I wanted out. But you know how the game work, it ain’t easy as saying you done. King was the crown and he was my boy, but he couldn’t let me out like that. I was making good money too, and it was honestly hard to consider walking away from it.” – Maverick

“Those were the hardest three years of my life. Growing up I was pissed at my daddy for going to prison and leaving me. And there I was, in the same prison as him, missing out on my babies’ lives.” – Maverick

“I missed the first days of school, all that. Had my baby wanting to call somebody else daddy ’cause I wasn’t there.” – Maverick

Earlier in the novel, Starr touches base on her views and why she believes there is conflict between Uncle Carlos and her father,

“I was three when Daddy went to prison, six when he got out. A lot of memories include him, but a lot of my firsts don’t. First day of school, the first time I losta tooth, the first time I rode a bike without training wheels. In those memories, Uncle Carlos’s face is where Daddy’s should’ve been. I think that’s the real reason they’re always fighting.” – Starr, page 58.

Hero Archetype

The second and most obvious archetype I will reflect on is the hero archetype. This archetype can be labeled upon Starr. Though Starr has not saved the world or created a major paradigm shift (at least, not yet in the novel!) she has shown qualities of wanting to make a difference. Starr had gone through two traumatic events that have led her on a quest for justice for Khalil regarding gun violence in black communities. The following quote found on page 219 can show the feelings and emotions that Starr has that give her the drive to fight for her beliefs,

“I’ve tried to forget it, but I remember everything. The shots, the look on Natasha’s face. They never caught the person who did it. I guess it didn’t matter enough. But it did matter. She mattered.” … “And I want everyone to know that Khalil mattered too.” – Starr

After a conflict between Hailey and Starr, Starr finally recognized how many times she has allowed her to say racist comments, silencing herself to allow Hailey to feel more comfortable. Starr also realized that she has a voice and should standup for herself, and those of her colour,

“That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

Fire Symbol

The fire that was set ablaze at the police precinct show the anger and frustration that people share about the injustice of Khalil’s death. Starr realizes that the individuals participating in the riots are not only mad that Khalil died but that he was unarmed. In the following quote found on page 138, Starr outlines what the news is screening on tv,

“The news shows three patrol cars that have been set ablaze at the police precinct, about a five-minute drive from us.”

Overall, the novel depicts many archetypes and many symbols. Though, I only touched base on three. These characters and their archetypes may evolve to grow stronger or even change as the story comes to an end.

To get your very own copy of “The Hate U Give”, visit the link below:

 

THE HATE U GIVE – My Thoughts

“The Hate U Give” is a young adult fiction novel written by Angie Thomas and was published on February 28, 2017; this breathtaking book even debuted at number one on The New York Times young adult best-seller list for 50 weeks straight. Thomas wrote this book for her grandma who showed her light can be found in the darkness. “The Hate U

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Give” follows a 16year old black female, Starr, who is faced with real black female issues.  Starr’s home resides in a neighbourhood that is both poor and black but her school & friends reside in an all-white district about 45 minutes away. Due to the two completely different world’s Starr transitions from daily, she is faced with two different versions of herself.  At home, Starr is comfortable in her own skin but when she’s at school she becomes Williamson Starr, a girl who doesn’t use slang, is nonconfrontational, and is approachable. Ultimately, the story begins with the reader being able to see these two very different personalities.

 

In the first third of the novel, the reader’s are introduced to both of Starr’s personality as well as her family, friends and the lifestyle she lives. At the ripe and young age of 16, Starr has lost and witnessed the death of 2 childhood best-friends due to gun violence; one death by a gang drive-by and the other by a cop. By default, Starr becomes the main and only witness to Khalil’s death and is forced to deal with the pressure of being interrogated by the police and reliving the incident time and time again.

Though “The Hate U Give” is a fictional novel it has fuelled the Black Lives Matter movement. As a reader who has never experienced losing someone to police brutality, this novel has allowed me to understand and acknowledge that it is in fact something real; that there is SO much inequality and injustice surrounding the matter. Injustice is the theme of the novel and it is showcased with the unjust murder of Khalil. During Khalil’s funeral service, a woman named April Ofrah, who is part of a small organization ‘Just Us for Justice’, recognized this injustice, “… despite a credible eyewitness account, the police department [had] no intentions of arresting the officer who murdered [Khalil]” (page 128). Ofrah also recognized that Khalil was silenced and it was now their job to stand up, using their voices that they still had, to honour Khalil’s legacy. Not only does this novel focus on gun violence but also the other issues Starr is faced with as a black woman. Starr spends the day in a relatively safe place, school, where she would only have to deal with the few racist remarks from her so-called friends, but when she goes home to her black neighbourhood she is faced with the dangers of crossing paths with gangs and even the police. One thing that really got me is that these individuals are constantly living in fear, constantly focusing on how they could be perceived when around an authoritative figure such as a police officer. “Keep your hands visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you” (page 20), Khalil reminded Starr moments before he was shot at point-blank range.

Personally, I find reading rather difficult and especially when I don’t have free range of book choice. Though, I have really enjoyed reading this first third of the novel, it’s super engaging and really interesting. I found that listening along while reading myself as well was a really effective way to keep me on task and help to lessen the distractions around me.

To get your very own copy of “The Hate U Give”, visit the link below: