Journal #10

It is evident in both EW Harper’s poem “Learning to Read” and Charles W. Chestnutt’s story “The Wife of his Youth” that literacy and knowledge is imperative to succeeding in an upwardly mobile society. The Blue Vein Society stressed the importance of education in ‘assimilating’ and gaining acceptance in white society. However, as the story of “The Wife of his Youth” unfolds, the reader begins to realize that moving up in society isn’t everything. In fact, it seems that with education comes complications. For example, Mr. Ryder explains that while the darker complexioned society would “welcome us… it would be a backwards step” (Chestnutt). He goes on to say that their Blue Vein Society can only “do the best that we can for ourselves”. Mr. Ryder no doubt realizes that knowledge has clouded his true feeling when a woman with very little education tells her story of complete and utter devotion.

Mr. Ryder insinuates that education changed him. Had he still been the man that he was before the war he would not have hesitated in revealing himself to his wife and lived in blind happiness. However, education and society forced the burden of the advancement of his race upon him. All the while his wife who had no education was certain that she would find the man she loves before she died, that kind of conviction might not be found in any educated person because with education come great responsibility.  Education forces us to question the possible outcomes of certain situations rather than trusting our own natural instincts. After an internal debate, Mr. Ryder came to the same conclusion that Mrs. Dixon came to in only a moment of silence; no matter what education may bring you, it cannot replace love. The wife of Mr. Ryder’s youth shows us that our first instinct is to find love and hold on to it no matter what color you are or the level of education you possess.