Pop's Grief and Fixation
Question: Pop’s stories often involve the ghost of the young boy, Richie, but he rarely speaks about Given. Is the fixation with one related to the other? What does it tell us about Pop and his own grief?
In Sing, Unburied, Sing Jesmyn Ward brings in characters that have a dynamic and complex viewpoint, and Pop is no different from this representation. We get an early insight into Pop's backstory right away: “Pop, you going to tell me about you and stag’...’about what’...'Parchment’” (Ward 16-17). Parchment being a filthy, below par prison. It becomes clear that Pop is clearly struggling with his time at parchment because he is never able to finish the story about his time there. Pop is always able to talk about Richie in the beginning, a 12-year-old boy at Parchment, but he is reluctant to tell what happened to him. Pop’s continuance to talk about Richie is a fixation that differs from his silent grief over Given, Pop’s deceased son. The fixation over Richie becomes an interesting viewpoint because Pop always viewed Richie as a helpless child looking for a “father” figure. Pop’s narrative gives us an interesting viewpoint into the relationship between Richie and Pop. Pop’s relationship with Given differs quite a bit from his relationship with Richie. The difference in relationships also plays a part in the fixation and grief.
The deaths of Richie and Given affect Pop differently because of the role and position he was in for each of their deaths. I believe that the fixation on Richie and the silent grief are related to each other because of the actions Pop took after Richie's death, or inaction, you could say. We are given the insight that other characters were feeling the hostility between the black and white communities through another character who eventually flees from Mississippi: “A ‘person ain’t safe’...’and that’s why this is the last you see of me around here, Riv. I’m heading north to Chicago…’” (Ward 188). Sun Woman gives us a story of a black couple getting lynched over something they didn’t do because a white woman was upset with them. Pop fixates on Richie because he knew there was nothing he could do other than give him a merciful death, so telling his story, especially the beginning, gives him the validation that there was nothing he could do. Given, on the other hand, could have completely avoided his death by Pop moving the family out of Mississippi, and Pop knew this; he was warned about it, and when Given was killed by his football teammate, Pop had nothing to say; it was a senseless death he could have prevented, and he did nothing, so he sits in shame and silence for being actionless.
Pop’s grief differs between the two deaths because of how powerless he felt in Richie’s situation and how actionless he was in Given’s death. He knew that the most he could have done with Richie was give him a merciful death, so he feels less grief because he exhausted his options, but with Given, because he is actionless, he feels shame and silence because he could have prevented the death of his real son.
ReplyDeleteThis post provides a compelling perspective on how Pop’s fixation on Richie and his silence on Given are tied to his feelings of guilt and shame. This insight deepens the understanding of Pop’s character and how his grief varies between these two losses. Building on that, another perspective focuses on Richie and Given as symbols of different kinds of grief. Richie represents the collective trauma of racial violence, with his death tied to systemic oppression. Pop says, “That boy was too little. Too slight. Too sickly. Couldn’t keep up” (Ward, p. 145), emphasizing how Richie’s fate was sealed by the harsh realities of Parchman. Pop retelling Richie’s story allows him to express this broader historical grief.
In contrast, Given’s death is personal and senseless, tied to racial violence but in a more intimate way. Pop’s silence about Given reflects the unbearable weight of losing his own son, a loss he feels too deeply to express. “When Given died, Pop didn’t say a word” (Ward, p. 53). This silence speaks to a more private, personal grief that Pop cannot articulate, making it a profound, unspoken wound.
The original post’s exploration of guilt enriches this view by showing how personal responsibility plays into Pop’s reactions. I understood a new view, one that might add on to my initial thoughts to truly highlight how Pop’s plight is much deeper than it initially seems.
This is a very interesting comparison that is worth discussing. However, I disagree with a few claims. While I agree that the way Pop expresses grief for the two boys differs, I disagree with the claim that Pop feels guilt about his “inaction” following Richie’s death. Following Richie’s death, Pop “finally found his mama after weeks of searching, just so I could tell her Richie was dead” (256). Additionally, Pop continues to keep Richie alive in his and Jojo’s memories by repeatedly telling Jojo Richie’s story. This feels like the opposite of inaction. I would argue that Pop is much less active following Given’s death, as he refuses to discuss it and doesn’t fight the claims that Given was in a hunting accident.
ReplyDeleteTo expand on the point about Richie seeing Pop as a father figure, I would add that Pop’s goodness is portrayed in how he never expressed frustration for Richie’s dependence on him. Pop constantly had to look out for Richie, cleaning his back when he is whipped and even laughing at his unfunny jokes. Whether it be intentional or not, Richie placed an unfair burden on Pop. Not only did Pop do everything possible to protect him, but he eventually had to mercifully kill Richie. It’s reasonable to imagine that Pop would feel some resentment towards Richie, though Pop’s sadness and guilt are portrayed rather than indignation.
This post offers an interesting perspective on Pop's fixation with Richie compared to his silent grief over his son, Given. I agree that Pop feels a deep sense of guilt about Given’s death, making it hard for him to talk about it. Expanding on that point, I believe that societal pressures play a significant role in this suppression. Fathers are expected to protect their children, and Pop feels ashamed for not doing enough to protect his son. Discussing Given’s death would force him to confront these feelings, which intensify his grief. In contrast, there’s less pressure regarding Richie, since Pop isn’t his biological father. This difference adds to the burden of guilt surrounding Given’s death.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the societal expectations of men to suppress their emotions and never admit weaknesses might also lead to Pop’s reluctance to talk about Given’s death. The emotions he feels surrounding Given’s death are so much stronger, and couldn’t be explained without also highlighting his weaknesses. Broadly, the societal idea of masculinity makes Pop more hesitant to talk about his failed responsibility as a father.
Moreover, Pop’s guilt drives him to be a fatherly figure to Jojo. He calls Jojo "son,” emphasizing his desire to retry. Richie’s perspective also highlights this commitment: “Riv hugs them even when he’s not in the same room with them” (Ward 239). This shows how determined Pop is to protect and nurture Jojo and Kayla, reflecting his wish to fulfill the role he failed with Given.