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In "Arrangement in Black and White" the reader is able to recognize something that the woman does not. What should a careful reader see?

her racism
Walter's musical talent
the cynicism of the host
her poor attitude towards her husband

2 Answers

1 vote
No it's A.her racism
User MetalGodwin
by
7.9k points
7 votes

Answer:

The answer is indeed letter A. her racism.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Arrangement in Black and White" is a short story by Dorothy Parker. One of the characters is a woman who claims to be open-minded and to have no "feeling at all" when it comes to black people. She even says she hates it when people are narrow-minded and judgmental toward black people, and makes a point of arguing with her husband at home when they discuss the matter.

Still, throughout the story, not a single line that comes out of her mouth is free of prejudice. She talks of black people as if they are childish, dangerous, bad-tempered, ugly. Even though she compliments how talented they are, how they have music in them, she does not see black people as her equal. Some of her lines are:

“Listen,” she said. “I want to meet Walter Williams. Honestly, I’m just simply crazy about that man. [...] Well, I said to Burton, ‘It’s a good thing for you Walter Williams is colored,’ I said, ‘or you’d have lots of reason to be jealous.’..."

"...They’re just like children, just as easy-going, and always singing and laughing and everything. Aren’t they the happiest things you ever saw in your life?..."

“Oh, I get so furious when people are narrow-minded about colored people. It’s just all I can do not to say something. Of course, I do admit when you get a bad colored man, they’re simply terrible. "

“Is that Katherine Burke? Why, she looks entirely different off the stage. I thought she was much better-looking. I had no idea she was so terribly dark. ..."

User Glauco Neves
by
8.2k points
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