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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of The Nickel Boys is largely somber and tragic, given the harrowing nature of the setting and story itself. Boys at the Nickel Academy—much like those in the real-life Dozier School—experienced immense violence and trauma from both the school’s powers and one another.
These conditions went largely unnoticed during the 20th century, as the school hid hundreds of bodies in unmarked graves around the property. These graves were not discovered until the early 2010s. This tragic reality—and the parallel narrative of The Nickel Boys—evokes a tragic mood. Readers may feel horror and anger (much like the boys themselves) over characters’ treatment at Nickel Academy: particularly because a large percentage of the school’s inhabitants were wrongly accused of crimes or sent to this horrific school for non-violent and low-level misdemeanors.
However, readers may also feel a mood of hope and perseverance through the characters of Elwood and Turner—particularly Elwood, who represents moral clarity, grit, and intelligence even as he regularly encounters life-risking conditions. Turner, who carries on Elwood’s legacy by living as him, represents perseverance as well. He also represents the tragic reality that even those with strong moral compasses do not always make it out of Nickel alive.
The novel’s engagement with themes about racism and segregation are also key contributors to its moods of tragedy and hope. The novel’s commentary on these subjects mirrors the real-life Civil Rights Movement, which was at its peak during the novel’s established timeline. In particular, the character of Elwood has a keen eye for verbal, physical, and even subconscious racism. He looks towards leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. to guide his path and his beliefs towards achieving racial harmony. However, his time is tragically cut short when he is killed after trying to escape from Nickel Academy—a plot point that heavily influences the overall mood of The Nickel Boys.
Related Themes:
