Richard Wright narrates the story of his life in three stages in order to trace his growth as an individual and as a writer. The first stage covers his childhood and adolescence in Memphis, West Helena and Jackson respectively. The second stage covers his later adolescence, when he is on the threshold of a new life. The third stage covers his adult life in Chicago. The first stage of the autobiography begins from Chapter I and portrays Richard at the age of four. Full of energy, Richard hates to be confined within his home. Infuriated with his mother, he develops a strange affection towards fire. His prank results in disaster and he is punished for it. This incident throws light on his personality and attitude. Time and again, he resents authority and lands himself in trouble. However, he overcomes the hurdles in his way through sheer determination and clears nine grades in school. The end of the tenth chapter shows Richard turning his back on hunger and poverty by leaving Jackson for Memphis.
             Chapter XI ushers the second stage of the autobiography. At the age of seventeen, he settles down in a paying guest accommodation in Memphis and gets employed in a successful optical company. He pursues his hobby of reading by browsing through the newspapers and reading an assortment of books borrowed from the library. Richard has a comfortable house, a secure job, a pleasurable pastime and good savings. After overcoming some minor problems, Richard establishes his identity in Memphis. In a matter of two years, he gains more confidence and knowledge than he had gained in the first seventeen years of his life. The second stage of Richard's life gets over by Chapter XIV as he leaves Memphis for Chicago.
             The third stage of Richard's autobiography starts from Chapter XV and continues till the end of the book in Chapter XX. Richard arrives in Chicago in 1925, at the age of nineteen. He seeks employment in Confectioners and a Caf&e...