The Role of Morality and Human Nature in The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019)

The Role of Morality and Human Nature in The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019)

Long-Tail Keywords:

Expanding the Roles:
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a harrowing exploration of racism, abuse, and the corrupt nature of societal systems. Set in the 1960s in a fictional reform school in Florida, the novel follows two boys, Elwood Curtis and Turner, as they navigate the brutalities of an institution that is supposed to rehabilitate them. For literature students, this book serves as a poignant commentary on race, morality, and the resilience of the human spirit.

• Racism and the Abuse of Power:
  The novel’s exploration of systemic racism in the American South is central to its narrative. Literature students can explore how Whitehead critiques the institutionalized racism present in schools and the justice system, offering a window into the historical context of racial inequality and its continuing legacy.

• Morality and Human Nature:
  The Nickel Boys raises questions about morality and human nature, particularly in the context of a corrupt institution. Students can examine how Whitehead portrays the struggle between good and evil, the choices characters make under duress, and the complex moral decisions they face when survival is at stake.

What We Learn:
Through The Nickel Boys, literature students can learn about the profound effects of systemic racism on individuals and communities. The novel encourages readers to reflect on the nature of justice, the abuse of power, and the importance of resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.