Like a Winding Sheet

Like a Winding Sheet: A Twisted Reaction of Violence Ann Petry’s short story “Like a Winding Sheet” tells the tale of an African-American man who is filled with anger and frustration over his perceived status in life. The story is set during the middle 1940s, a time before African-Americans attained civil rights in America. The protagonist, Johnson, is always aware of an ache in his legs, and the tension he feels in his hands. …

…at the restaurant. African-Americans could even be put to death during the middle 1940s for laying a hand on a white person. But when he got home, he was finally in his “castle” and did not appreciate his wife ordering him around. It was safer to release his anger on her. It is important that we recognize signs of stress and take action to rid ourselves of it lest we hurt those we love most.