Nullification Crisis Comic

"The First Day" Response

            “The First Day” is a brief first-person narrative about a child whose mother enrolls her in a kindergarten. They are turned away at what the neighborhood regards as the best school in the area, and the child is enrolled in another school. It is an undramatic story in which the child has her first experience of loss when her mother leaves her at the end. The focus is on the mother, who, illiterate herself, is determined that her child will have a better chance in life than she had.

            The author enhances the reader’s imagery by using sensory words to describe what would seem like insignificant details such as the clothing the child wears. He employs realistic scenarios that are relatable to the audience. Jones’s use of diction and tone makes the story unique, being told from a child’s perspective; it can be a difficult thing to accomplish if the proper choice of words is not present. Utilizing the simplicity of a child’s mind, Jones’s creates an enjoyable read that every reader can relate to.

            The use of irony is minimal throughout the story; the only example I was able to find was of the mother not being able to fill out the forms required to apply her child to school. Because of the mother being illiterate, the reader feels empathy towards her as well as her child, implying that she did not have a good education as a youth. We all know the importance of not only an education, but also just the basic skills we learn in school.