Doby’s Gone tells the story of Sue Johnson, a young girl who is lonely and has no one to play with. The story explores Sue’s relationship with her imaginary friend, Doby, as well as the racial prejudice she faces and her struggles for respect at school. At the start of the story, Doby becomes a part of Sue’s family. Despite being a little girl with no friends her age, Sue creates Doby to be her constant companion.
Meanwhile, Sue’s mother desires for Doby to disappear before Sue starts school, as she sees Doby as a representation of loneliness and innocence, just like Sue. Additionally, Sue herself is a lonely girl who is unaware of the world around her, making Doby a safe playmate for her. Another aspect highlighted by the author is the racial disparity. Initially, Sue’s racial background remains unidentified until she attends school. Sue does not consider her skin color to be significant; it is simply a normal aspect to her. This illustrates Sue’s lack of preparation for the complexities of society.
Sue’s lack of understanding of the world around her is evident as she faces constant harassment and taunting from her school classmates. They mock her for having “black legs” and engage in physical aggression, chasing after her, pushing her, and pulling on her hair. These experiences make Sue feel excluded and angry. To gain respect from her peers and protect herself, Sue realizes that she must fight back. However, when she confronts the other children, her imaginary friend Doby disappears, symbolizing the end of their friendship and marking Sue’s transition from a young girl to an adolescent. This transformation is viewed by Sue as a natural part of growing up since Doby has always been by her side before. Without Doby present in her thoughts anymore, Sue understands that his return is unlikely. The author’s purpose throughout the story is to depict the relationship between Sue and her imaginary friend, emphasize the impact of racial differences, highlight the importance of valuing others, and shed light on the challenges faced by socially struggling children during their journey from childhood to adolescence.
