Answered



In “The Rockpile” by James Baldwin, why does Gabriel treat John so differently?


John is not Gabriel’s biological son.


John instigated the fight that hurt Roy.


John is the oldest, most responsible child.


John disobeyed Elizabeth’s rules.

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Answer:

John is not Gabriel’s biological son.

Explanation:

James Baldwin's short story "The Rockpile" tells the story of a family who had been living in poverty. The main plot of the story revolves around a father's biased treatment of his children with that of his wife's son from another man.

John was the eldest of his siblings, "an alterable testimony to his mother's days in sin". The rest of the children were the legitimate off-springs of Gabriel and his wife while only John had been born from another man. S, when he saw that Roy had been hurt badly, he began to get angry at his wife's son. He had always treated his own bloodline differently to John, who, to him was a result of some sin. Thus, he treats him differently as he wasn't his biological son.

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