Response to "The Understudy by David Sedaris" - Akshay Saxena

Reading this short story I really marveled on how the writer almost summed up all the stereotypes I've heard of. In the story, the writer pointed out the situation of black folk during the previous century, where they had nothing of their own and all they did was work for the white folks.For instance start with the first babysitter they got, Mrs. Byrd. She almost fainted with joy over the fact that if she worked there, she would be getting stuff that was her own. As if to make this point clearer the writer introduced their next babysitter, Mrs. Robbins, who would be down on her knees and thanking god for giving her "these wonderful white people and all they have given me this fine weekend". The writer also mentioned how both these babysitters were polite and humble all the time and served the children like their own.

But now in the picture comes Mrs. Peacock. The almost perfect, in fact, the perfect example of what can only be defined as "white trash". A woman (NOT a lady) who would not be taking showers, would lie in bed all day, would make other people work for her and would have no respect for the person she's working under. To add to that she is also shown to be always on the phone with people she has all different kinds of businesses with. The writer has so subtly used a child's explanation of this and how it is so difficult for them to even believe that a person like this could be a legitimate female.

He also talked about the house Mrs. Peacock lived in, describing the area to be trashy and filled with small houses. Responding to the question put up by Alexis in her blog, I would say i surely feel that there are many people like Mrs. Peacock still but that number has decreased as the people have started becoming literate now. I feel this image may still be persisting in parts where the people are still living in poverty and minimal education.

The most outrageous part of the whole story was how easily she was able to exploit the children into doing her own work. Also was the fact on how easily their mother did not believe them but believed the babysitter instead. In the writer said how their mother closed the door on their face and started conversing with the babysitter. I felt that this was new to the children, as they must have never seen that happen before with any other black babysitter. I think here also the writer kind of gave a hint of how discrimination over color was prevalent over that time.