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Ex Colored Man Analysis

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These two short excerpts, “Quicksand” and “Ex-Colored Man” are stories with protagonists trying to escape. In both cases the author uses characters, events, and setting to develop the theme of how journeys can offer escape. Helga and the protagonist in the Ex-colored man are both fleeing, whether from crime or daily life and the trip they take is the only time available to escape.

In “Quicksand,” it is evident that one of the main reasons for the protagonists leave is to escape. This can be seen through character development and the descriptions. The young woman is in love but also afraid and desires to go home. The man who Helga loves is named Dr. Anderson. Helga says “only the figure of Dr. Anderson obtruded itself” (Larsen 5). From this we can tell that Dr. Anderson, despite Helga's leaving, is sneaking into Helga’s thoughts. This imagery is the first sign of Helga’s need to escape the confusion she has for her feelings and Dr. Anderson. The second motive for leaving is to return home. In the case of Helga, her Aunt represents her home life. When …show more content…

In Ex-colored Man” it can be inferred that the protagonist is running from something. Early on the story states that “I somehow could not rid myself for the widows tragic end” (Johnson 1). By saying this the protagonist is inferring that he is somehow related to a murder or some other crime that he must escape. There is not much other detail but the reader the passage also suggests that the protagonist did not commit the crime and could have been wrongfully accused. The protagonist then travels to Paris. Here the connection between the protagonist and the city seems intense, described as “a love which today makes that country for me the one above all the others to be desired” (Johnson 2). While the protagonist may not have had the intention of discovering Paris, the connection formed was a motive to leave and maybe foreshadowing the protagonist stays in

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