themes in another country by james baldwin

For example, at one point when Vivaldo confronts Rufus in an attempt to help him, Rufus states: “Somebody’s got to help me…somebody’s got to help me. His relationship with his friend, Vivaldo, illustrates the dark, pain-filled side of Rufus because often their interactions include Rufus confiding in, and looking to Vivaldo for support. Rufus’ relationships with the people around him most illustrate his character. This caused me to think deeply about Baldwin’s purpose in creating Rufus – What is he trying to tell us through his creation of this character?

I found the characterization of Rufus to be so moving that I felt an emotional connection to him. For the most part, Rufus is characterized through his relationships with the people around him, specifically his friends, his girlfriend, and his sister. One main aspect of this novel that resonated with me was the way in which Baldwin chose to characterize Rufus. Through the lives of Rufus and his loved ones, this portion of the novel explores many social themes, such as, sexuality, racism, interracial relationships, and mental illness.

This portion of the novel highlights the daily occurrences and hardships of Rufus’ life, and also the lives of those who love and care for him. For this post, I am focusing on the first half of James Baldwin’s novel Another Country. In summary, this portion of the book focuses most specifically on the character of Rufus, an African American man struggling through life in New York in the 1950’s.

Themes in another country by james baldwin