The "Ah Hah" Moment

There is one literary element that makes all texts worth reading: suspense. Many people search for books and novels that are suspenseful because they like to have surprises and “Ah Hah!” moments when they get to the end, when everything comes together and makes sense.

Two texts in particular that create these moments are “Learning to Read” by Frances E.W. Harper and “The Wife of His Youth” by Charles Chesnutt. Both of these readings create an “Ah Hah” moment where the story comes to a surprising conclusion. Harper’s poem “Learning to Read” leads the reader to first believe that Frances Harper was a deprived slave who never received the privilege of learning to read by her recollection that “Our masters always tried to hide Book learning from our eyes; Knowledge didn’t agree with slavery - ‘Twould make us all too wise” explains how it was frowned upon and almost near impossible for slaves to be able to learn to read. Right when one believes she will never get the privilege she so longs for, the story takes a twisting turn. Harper speaks of her determination and how she “Got a pair of glasses, And Straight to work I went, And never stopped till I could read The hymns and Testament.” After reading this and concluding the story, I was surprised to find out that Frances Harper was finally able to learnt to read, and lived with her freedom and independence in her own cabin for the rest of eternity.

In “The Wife of His Youth” by Charles Chesnutt, the protagonist, Mr. Ryder, tells a story of his journey to the woman of his dreams. Chesnutt first leads the reader astray at the beginning by telling the story of how Mr. Ryder had met a woman named Mrs. Dixon and he had fallen completely in love with her and wished to marry her. This leads the reader to think he is going to end up with this woman he has just met. Mr. Ryder plans a ball, where he would propose to Mrs. Dixon. At this time, an older black woman walks through the gate and catches Mr. Ryder’s attention. She begins to speak to Mr. Ryder: “"'scuse me, suh, I's lookin' for my husban'. I heerd you wuz a big man an' had libbed heah a long time, an' I 'lowed you wouldn't min' ef I'd come roun' an' ax you ef you'd eber heerd of a merlatter man by de name er Sam Taylor 'quirin' roun' in de chu'ches ermongs' de people fer his wife 'Liza Jane?” Here, Liza explains she has been looking for her husband for 25 years since he has been freed from slavery, but she has yet to find him. Liza proceeds to show Mr. Ryder a picture of her long lost husband, to which “He looked long and intently at the portrait…..and it was easy to see what manner of man it had represented.” This gives the reader a hint of insight that he recognizes the man in the photo. He then proceeds to go upstairs and stare at himself in the mirror at his own reflection. Returning down to the ball, he speaks to his audience about what he should do in a time of crisis where a woman returned to seek her husband after 25 years. He wonders if she should be accepted or not. Chesnutt then throws the final curveball by ending the story, “Ladies and gentlemen…this is the woman, and I am the man, whose story I have told you. Permit me to introduce to you the wife of my youth.” This is such an amazing moment for a reader, after reading this long story, they finally come to the realization in the very last sentence that Mr. Ryder was the long lost husband Ms. Liza had been searching for. In just one final sentence, the whole story comes together in an instant and gives the reader lasting satisfaction.