Trapped In Terror

         Throughout The Rockpile, by James Baldwin there seems to be a significant amount of fear and restraint instilled into the mother Elizabeth, and children John and Roy. The rockpile was an area across their house, which many children and gang members gathered around to fight and play. Baldwin continued to show a sense of curiosity in Roy that was being built due to such restrictions.

            Elizabeth once told both children, Roy and John, to stay away from the rockpile, but she was particularly referring to and looking at Roy (Baldwin 153). In response, “Roy shifted impatiently, and continued to stare at the street, as though in this gazing he might somehow acquire wings” (Baldwin 153). The children seemed to be trapped in the house at all times. When Baldwin stated that Roy imagined that he would “somehow acquire wings”, it creates the notion that Roy was continuously wishing to leave the house and dreamt of it often. There was one point in the story where a mother was crying and screaming really loud outside because her son had drowned in the river, and Elizabeth cried, “’Lord, Lord, Lord!’ and slammed the window down” (Baldwin 154). The house remained closed off and the less attention paid to the outside, seemed to be preferred.

            Roy wanted to discover beyond the boundaries of his house. “But until he (Gabriel, the father) came to end their freedom, they sat, watching and longing above the street” (Baldwin 154). Roy and John feared their father’s presence. It was known that they would be punished if they left the house, especially without permission. Roy yelled at his friends through the window bars (Baldwin 153). Baldwin’s diction in this sentence is unique. When he uses the words “window bars,” it enhances the idea that the children are trapped and cannot leave, sort of like a prison.

One day, Roy and John were sitting on the fire escape, and Roy became bored and sat beside John in restless silence (Baldwin 154). Roy constantly craved to leave the house and had an adventurous and courageous side to him. Roy left for the rockpile and promised John that he would be back in no more than five minutes. Roy got wounded on the rockpile on a Saturday, an hour before is father would be coming home. Baldwin emphasizes the time in this phrase because it generates suspense in the reader. When Gabriel asked John what exactly happened he stated, “You want me to take a strap to you” (Baldwin 158)? Elizabeth replied to this by saying that he was not going to do it, not today at least. This tells the reader that Gabriel has physically beaten the children in the past, specifically John.

Due to the violence present in the house, fear is constantly evident in the children. Roy challenges this fear by going beyond his borders. Baldwin shows how Roy’s inquisitiveness caused him to go against the house rules and that he was tired of being trapped at all times.