The story “Endangered Species: Case 47401” by Crustal Wilkinson has been recognised as a masterpiece in the genre of short stories. The recognition has led the book to be listed as one of the best short stories in 2021 and become the winner of The O. Henry Prize (Wilkinson). This interpretative summary aims to provide a critical discourse on the plot, setting, emotions and writing style reflected in the narrative.
Crystal Wilkinson is regarded as a feminist poet to be ushered with global popularity through awards and recognition. The professor from the University of Kentucky has presented the masterpiece of the narrative the “Endangered Species: Case 47401” by winning the best short story award. The writer has subsequently explored the social injustices and discriminations faced by coloured skin and projected this mistreatment as the ulterior theme of the narrative (Wilkinson). Her exploration of the main concept and events of racial injustices and racism prevalent in modern American societies sets the mood of the story with a powerful message stirring deepest emotions within the readers. The insight of the narrative has been presented through the perspective of a black family to ensure that the discourse is set perfectly for the readers. The protagonist of the narrative has been a black woman who lives with her two children and husband in a white-dominated affluent neighbourhood. In the personal narration of the events through the black woman who is also the narrator of the story, Wilkinson portrays the significant struggles of racism faced by the protagonist (Wilkinson). Simultaneously the emotional turmoil of being away from the family and cultural roots has also been a major outlook in the story. The typical projection of the events by Wilkinson has been followed in the particular story as the narrator is kept anonymous to demonstrate the subjugated historical course of social mistreatments faced by people due to skin colour in general (Wilkinson).
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it can be concluded that Wilkinson has significantly drawn the attention of the readers through the narrative discourse in being aware of the injustices prevalent in the neighbourhood. The serious issue of the practice of racism and racial injustices has quite efficiently been portrayed by the writer in a relatable context.
References
Wilkinson, Crystal. “Endangered Species: Case 47401.” The Best Short Stories 2021: The O.
Henry Prize Winners, edited by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, 2021, pp. 37-50.
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