Harlem Shuffle Essay Questions

Why does Ray think that the "crooked" and "straight" worlds operate on the same rules?

Ray thinks his two worlds operate on the same rules because he thinks that, whatever the context, people are always looking for money. He puts this more bluntly when he observes that someone always has their hand out for an envelope. His cynical view is that most operations within the city occur within the same network of hidden deals and betrayals and that the outward appearance of respectability ultimately means very little.

How does Ray feel about his cousin?

Ray loves his cousin very much. He goes out of his way to protect him throughout their lives together despite Freddie constantly getting into hot water with the law. The novel's two major botched heists occur because of Freddie's carelessness, and yet Ray continues to do his best to shield him from the consequences. Freddie's death haunts Ray and leaves him with an intense sense of grief. Whitehead effectively shows that their bond runs deep and that the love Ray has for him never wavers in the face of bad circumstances.

Why is Ray's relationship with his in-laws so fraught?

Ray dislikes his in-laws because of their classism. They constantly make comments about the smallness of his apartment and the cheapness of his belongings. Ray feels that they think their daughter married beneath her class by choosing him as a husband. He harbors a sense of resentment towards them because he can sense how they think about people who don't have the same amount of money as they do. This comes to a head when Ray bluntly confronts Alma about it and she acknowledges her dislike of him.

What is the novel's central conflict?

The novel's central conflict is Ray's struggle to balance his regular life and his criminal activities. Throughout the book, the two are in discord, as the former threatens the latter. Towards the end of the novel, Ray's cousin, Freddie, is abducted and beaten viciously for robbing a wealthy family. Ray goes to great lengths to try and save him but fails. Freddie succumbs to his wounds and dies at the novel's conclusion. Ray is haunted by this loss and is reminded that crime has an inevitable cost. While he is able to provide for himself and his nuclear family, he is ultimately unable to save his cousin.

What makes Ray a good criminal?

Ray is able to execute his plans smoothly because he is careful and patient. He keeps a low profile and does not act impulsively or rashly. He makes sure all elements of a plan fall into place before executing and leaves no detail to chance. The care he puts into his work earns him the admiration of veterans like Pepper, who later remarks that he isn't so different from his father after all.