Interracial Discord in James Baldwin'sAnother Country

Abstract

The present research tries to explore interracial discord in James Baldwin's Another Country.Baldwin presents the racial discord as the major problem of black people in Harlem City. The major black characters undergo through various painful experiences in their daily lives and get humiliated despite their ceaseless efforts to build relationships based on love and mutuality rather than hatred and mockery. Due to the racial hegemony and its consequences, they cannot escape from the iniquities of the racist society. Theblacks represented by Rufus Scott, Ida andYvesare oftenfrustrated and discordedeven if they try to co-exist with the whites likeVivaldo, Leona, Richard and Eric.The blacks are repeatedly made aware of their skin and the social status despite their sincere efforts to establish a mutual bond, a brotherhood and a relation based on sympathy and empathy. As a result of the white's racist and segregational attitudes they suffer both physically and mentally. Unable to digest the racial hatred and bear the nervous breakdown Rufus commits suicide, his sister Ida suffers from anxiety, Cass and Yves suffer from loneliness. Rufus' suicide is a racial murder, caused by racial hatred, rather than a voluntary choice.