Gregory's 'Oedipus' Essay: The Impact Of Shame

The Impact of Shame

Arden Ayala

ENGL 123-A01

Have you ever experienced shame? Shame is defined as a feeling of embarrassment or humiliation that arises from the perception of having done something dishonorable, immoral, or improper. People who experience shame usually try to hide the thing they feel ashamed of. When shame is chronic, it can involve the feeling that you are fundamentally flawed.

In the story Shame by author Dick Gregory the story follows a young boy faced with a rough childhood dealing with poverty. His poverty encapsulates both hunger and financial struggles, and the lack of a parental figure to guide him. Lost in his own personal struggles, he admires- a girl who lives a life diametrically opposed to his

He utilizes this imagery to describe each of his hardships. He describes illness caused by the cold, wet sensation of his clothes, those of which did not dry in the winter weather, and his hunger affecting his concentration. Hunger becomes enforced by the metaphor of eating paste and comparing this to the strange tastes of pregnant people. These terms help connect the reader to the difficulty of this child’s life. Not only does his use of imagery connect the reader with his feelings, but his use of metaphor creates a childlike comparison to his problems. Shame follows an informal way of speech, the staccato rhythm used throughout gives the same feeling as how a child’s mind works. Gregory’s use of this very jumpy, childlike thinking builds the story and the development of his character, of his life, without a drawn-out

And in this case, it seems so. The author of Shame, Dick Gregory, carries the role of protagonist. Shame becomes Gregory’s metaphorical soapbox to relay his memory to the reader, and the reader can sense he still holds onto the shame he felt as a child. He vividly remembers his teacher calling him out in front of his classmates, in front of the world, for this immense personal hardship. At the climax of the story, Gregory vividly recalls the moment in the classroom, and the reader can almost feel the tension and shame in the room. One can feel what he had to hold onto as a child, having to be seen as the kid without a father, and a “Worthy Boy,” a name not of honor but of shame and hardship. Gregory’s use of imagery brings the reader vividly experience the strife Gregory endured. The mood in this story changes immensely when the teacher calls him out for not having a father. Once he leaves the classroom, the story becomes dependent on imagery. It highlights exactly how he felt in his classroom, how he felt as a “Worthy Boy,” in the world, and how much shame he held. Having Shame told by Gregory makes this narrative incredibly personal. With Gregory as the narrator, Shame highlights a sadness for his childhood but also a show of growth, as the reader can now view this shame-filled child as a successful