After reading The Artificial Nigger the reader is left confused and frustrated. Mr. Head, the grandfather is an ignorant old man priding himself on the degradation of a young boy. Mr. Head is incessantly reminding Nelson that he knows nothing about the city. Occasionally, however, Mr. Head confesses that Nelson probably does know. This confession is given sarcastically and only to spite Nelson. Mr. Head wanders through the city with Nelson acting on sixth of his own age. Mr. Head decides, brilliantly, to show Nelson how much he needs his old grandfather. So, Mr. Head hides behind garbage cans while Nelson is asleep . Such behavior is not associated with a sixty year old man. Furthermore, as Mr. Head's patience dwindles, he kicks the garbage cans to arouse Nelson and start the action. Mr. Head is an old man behaving just as a child would. Nelson decides, subsequently, simply to ignore the old man. The reader recognizes the dignity in Nelson and is appalled by Mr. Head's ridiculous actions. The reader's knows that Mr. Head is trying antagonize Nelson and is playing games with him. The definition of the games I am referring is, saying or acting something different than you feel. Mr. Head tries to aggravate Nelson by showing his superiority over a child. He does this by making Nelson feel dependent of him in the big city. Nelson is foolish and tries to be more mature than he is however most children want to do this. He does this by arguing that he has been to the city before and also knows what a Nigger is, however he doesn't have the faintest idea. I think that Mr. Head understands and knows Nelsons desire for maturity and by playing his games he brings Nelson back to reality. Yet by doing this he losses Nelsons faith and love.
             I can connect this same type of games to a "Temporary Matter." There are two types of games being played in both stories. In a "TM" the wife plays the game where she tells Shu...