Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Coming of Age in Mississippi, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Intersection of Racism and Poverty
Loss of Innocence
The Importance of Community
Gender and Racism
Religion and Hypocrisy
Summary
Analysis
Essie Mae and her family move to their new house on land next to Raymond’s family. The house is the biggest house that Essie and her family have ever lived in, although it does not have a bathroom or running water. Mama and Essie Mae go to town to buy furniture. Essie Mae wants a bed with posts and a canopy, like Miss Ola’s bed, but the store don’t have one. Mama tells Essie Mae that she “shouldn’t want everything white folks ha[ve].” Now that Raymond and Mama live together, James comes to live with his parents. However, as he is used to living with Miss Pearl, he cries nightly until he can spend the night there.
Though the family’s move to their large new house marks a positive turning point in their living circumstances, the lack of a bathroom or running water reminds the reader that their struggles are far from over. Essie Mae’s aspiration to Miss Ola’s bed shows her commitment to securing a better life for herself and her family and, furthermore, a lack of understanding about the difficulty of this task. Mama’s advice to Essie Mae not to covet the possessions of white people reveals her way of processing the racist circumstances that impact her and her family’s life. What’s more, though they now live together, the emotional distance between Mama and James further highlights the difficulty of striving towards the family’s ideal life.
Themes
When the children go back to school, Essie Mae is delighted that her family can now afford to send as her with better food for lunch. However, she soon becomes disillusioned with this new stage in her family’s life due to the way that Raymond’s family mistreats Mama. As a result of this mistreatment, Mama begins to put more pressure on Essie Mae to outshine Raymond’s sisters. Essie Mae’s biggest competition is Darlene, who is her age. Essie Mae begins to play basketball and soon realizes that she is the most talented player on the team. HHoweHowever, when it comes time for the team’s first game, Essie Mae crumbles under the pressure, and the team loses. After this, Essie Mae quits the basketball team.
Though Essie Mae is at first delighted at her family’s new economic circumstances, she ultimately realizes that these improvements still have not improved Mama’s emotional circumstances. On another note, Essie Mae’s determination in her competition with Darlene exemplifies her persistent and perfectionist nature, as well as her natural talent. However, Essie Mae’s decision to quit the basketball team after a loss highlights the psychological toll that the pressure to succeed against prejudice takes on her.
Themes
A few months into the school year, Essie Mae comes home one day to find her aunt Alberta tending to Mama, who is about to have the baby. Amidst the stressful scene, Raymond arrives with the midwife and sends Essie Mae next door. However, rather than go to Miss Pearl’s house, Essie Mae hides behind Raymond’s car and listens to Mama’s screams. Essie Mae, who does not know who the midwife is, worries about Mama. In the end, though, Mama gives birth to a healthy baby and makes a full recovery. Essie Mae is happy to see Mama happy and calm, but she fears that it will not last. When Miss Pearl comes to see the baby and ignores Mama, confirming Essie Mae’s fears. Mama names the baby Virginia, after Mrs. Johnson, and calls her Jennie Ann.
Essie Mae’s fear that Mama’s happiness will not last shows that her life’s hardships have caused her to expect the worst. Miss Pearl’s unacceptable treatment of Mama even after the birth of Jennie Ann further highlights the pervasiveness of prejudice and complex racial dynamics within their new family structure. Their new family dynamic is defined by tension.
Themes
On Christmas, Mrs. Claiborne gives Essie Mae a present. Essie Mae reflects on the kindness of the Johnsons and the Claibornes, both white families, and wonders why Raymond’s family, even though they are Black, treat Mama so poorly. Essie Mae’s Aunt Alberta has recently moved to the neighborhood, and she and the rest of the family have a lovely Christmas together.
Essie Mae’s reflection on the dynamics between the Johnsons, Claibornes, and Raymond’s family demonstrates her determination to understand the workings of the society around her. Christmas with Aunt Alberta provides some relief from the tension of Raymond’s family and reminds Essie Mae of the possibility of a better life. The family’s Christmas celebration highlights the importance of community.
Themes
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