Racism in America
The novel depicts the story of Robert Jones trying to live a good life in America. He works hard, which is clear from his promotion, but unfortunately, he comes up against the obstacle of racism. Madge is a concrete part of this imagery, because she shapes his reality in frustrating ways. She ignores his leadership and blames him for issues. Then one day, out of capricious hatred, she screams that he is raping her when he isn't doing anything to her at all. He is powerless to stop her from hating him without cause, and he is powerless to make others believe him; they're racist too.
Work and the American Dream
Jones is a hard worker trying to make a better life for himself. He is focused, and he doesn't get caught up in negative issues like addiction or emotional craziness. He is a straight-laced good person. That doesn't save him, though, so the novel can be seen as an anti-story, taking the imagery of the American Dream and illustrating that the American Dream really only applies to those who are allowed to succeed, which in this book, is just white people. Madge gets anything she wants but doesn't work at all. Jones works hard only to lose everything for doing nothing wrong at all.
Tantric hatred
Alice makes Robert Jones consider peace with the racists at his job, so he willingly subjects himself to their hatred again, why? For Alice's romantic affections. She promises to be his, so he is willing. Then, he is accused of raping Madge in a scene very similar to Joseph in the Bible; she wants to have sex with him, but he rejects her, so she screams that he is raping her. She is using sexual hatred against him, proving that she only wanted to have sex with him to fulfill a perverted desire for sexual power over him.
Warfare and punishment
When Jones is shipped off to war in his plea deal, the imagery is deeply symbolic. He is now on the front lines of a battle for a nation that betrayed him at every turn. He is forced to fight to protect a nation that never protected him. The violence of war and the death sentence that he faces (Black soldiers were often dispatched for suicide missions during wars) are proof that he is not viewed as a real person. He is assumed guilty and punished, but he is only guilty of being Black. The true villains are the racists that comprise his community.
