"Everything that Rises"

The Story’s title “everything that rises” refers to the social inequality between black and white citizens. In the story, slavery had been abolished and blacks were starting to be integrated into white society. Many people, including Julian’s mother, were unable to accept this transition as they thought they were superior. Whites and blacks were starting to share the same amenities, which refers to how they, “must converge.” Blacks were now being viewed as equals in society and rising to the same social status as white people. In the story, the fact that white and black people were sitting next to each other on the bus was a big deal. I think the title of this story is fitting for the social context of the time, and shows that in the future blacks will be considered of equal status.

Hulga and Julian’s characters have some similar characteristics. Both characters have animosity towards their parents and are highly educated. Both characters feel as though they are too intelligent to relate to their mother’s views on society because they are too simple. Also, both characters end up learning a lesson about themselves and their levels of intelligence. Hulga thought she could easily manipulate Pointer and have control of the relationship.. until he stole her leg. While Julian was trying to teach his mother a lesson about racism and how she needed to treat people equally, but ended up risking his mother’s life in the process. Both character’s pompous attitude ended up hurting them in the end.