Literary Criticism: After you, my dear Alphonse

 

The strong point of this short story is the title 'After you, my dear Alphonse'

It regards a comic strip, featuring characters Alphonse and his friend Gaston, other than to be close friends, they are extremely polite to each other, constantly insisting that the other go first.

Boyd and Jonathan use this phrase toward themselves and Mrs. Wilson with a bitter aftertaste.

This story tells us that Mrs. Wilson masks his racism and prejudice towards the black boy with politeness.

This story is narrated in third person, we don't have a clear hero and villain, the two boys are somehow racist towards their mothers.

The behaviour of Mrs. Wilson can be interpreted as a polite form and care, for her kindness is masked by racism and prejudices.