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Like a Winding Sheet by Ann Petry

            Sigmund Freud believed if a person does not release his frustration and anger then he will succumb to his ID and burst into rage or some sort trauma ("The Psyche"). This is no more evident then in Ann Petry's "Like A Winding Sheet," the character of Johnson who is a working class black American in a white supremacy time. Racial discrimination at workplace/society and not being able to release his frustration in proper manner is the direct cause of Johnson's violent breakdown.
             The constant felling of ache and fatigue had caused him to be frustrated. It had started to take a toll on his relationship with his wife Mae. As she would be fresh and ready in the morning and he would be still in bed trying to get the courage to move his legs. Johnson was late for work again because of an argument with Mae. The foreman at work Mrs. Scott had scolded him for being late again. Johnson replies "it's my legs; somehow they don't ever get rested." (217) Mrs. Scott says "Excuses. You guys always got excuses; and the niggers are the worse. I don't care what's wrong with your legs. You get in here on time. I'm sick of you niggers-." (217) Johnson becomes furious with rage. His fists were doubled and felt a tingling in his hands. He remembered the foreman was a women and backed off. Johnson realizes his hands were not a part of himself any more. However he was reminded of the discrimination, when he enters a coffee shop and after a hard day of work and after waiting in line says "A cup of coffee." But the waitress replies "No more coffee for a while."(220) Without even thinking he starts to imagine the punching her and smearing her lipstick all over her cheek. Johnson thinks "hit her so hard that she would refuse a man a cup of coffee because he was black." (220) with all the rage gathered inside him and the fatigue of working ten long hours he heads home.


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