Gideon TITLE OF SOURCE: AUTHOR'S NAME - FIRST: LAST: DESCRIPTION: Visual Text Paragraph "Running away has always been inherent in the negro. He gave one regretful thought to the gorgeous wardrobe he was leaving behind him; but he dared not return for it." COMMENTS: Visual Text Paragraph The author exhibits a strange respect/ignorance for the central character, which might be a strength, if you're not afraid of it. The character is a black man who's found success on the vaudeville circuit, and he's well-respected and contented. But he's growing old and wants to return to his roots in the South, and here's where the author's peculiar point of view kicks in: as Gideon comes back to the South, he realizes how much he misses his old poor life, and he regresses before our eyes, becoming more and more happy, but more and more stereotyped, simple-minded and even sub-human. He eventually becomes homeless and commits a rather shocking crime -- which we're meant to understand and even cheer for. The story is ultimately racist and undoubtedly unpalatable to the modern audience, but there's a power and humanity in this story, if you can tame it. CANDIDATE FOR ADAPTATION?: --- not set --- Not reviewed Promising Unlikely SOURCE MATERIAL: Fable Novella Play Plot summary Short Story GENRE: Comedy Comic Horror Detective Drama Fable Fairy Tale Fantasy Folklore Folktale Ghost Story Melodrama Mystery Myth Operetta Other Romance Suspense Young Audiences SETTING: Africa America England Europe Fantasy International New Zealand Pastoral Rural Rustic Science Fiction LENGTH FOR ADAPTATION: 10 Minutes 15 Minutes 30 Minutes 45 Minutes 60 Minutes 90 Minutes Two Hours URL FOR PDF DOCUMENT: Gideon.pdf