During the era of regional realism, many writers sought to expose Americans to the culture and issues of the South and late 1800s. In their writings, there is a clear distinction between three groups of people: white males, blacks, and women. These stories display a power struggle between these groups, in which the white males dominate society, leaving blacks and women voiceless and oppressed. Regional realist writers took it upon themselves to expose and discourage the oppression of blacks and women they witnessed, thus challenging readers to grapple with these important socially radical issues. Although presented in several different fashions, in many regional regionalist writings, blacks are portrayed as victims in society. One way this oppression is exposed is through the trickster. The role of the trickster was to represent …show more content…
As seen in Brer Rabbit’s character throughout Uncle Remus’ tales, the trickster is a small and weak animal, similar to the position blacks were in before the Civil War. However, the tricksters are always able to escape from larger animals, their oppressors, by outwitting them. For instance, in the short story “How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox,” Brer Rabbit uses his cunning to trick Brer Fox, pleading, “skin me, snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my years by de roots, en cut off my legs, but do please, Brer Fox, don’t fling me in dat brier-patch” (Harris). Brer Fox cannot help himself but go against his plea and does just that. Yet, that was just as Brer Rabbit wanted, for in reality he was “bred en bawn in a brier-patch,” and was able to escape and outsmart his oppressor (Harris). These little folk tales are significant because they were based off of the