Throughout the text we see a very detailed description of the characters. One example of this is Maggie which is described as "the kitchen woman with legs like parenthesis". Also it is said that she is old, sandy-colored, wore a "really stupid little hat" and was short. Apart from this, other aspects are seen like class or stereotypes, as the narrator says that "even the New York City Puerto Ricans and the upstate Indians ignored us", showing that Roberta and herself were of very low status. This can also be seen with Twyla who lives in Newburgh. When she tells this to Roberta, she starts laughing possibly proving the point about stereotypes or expectations.
AS I was reading "Recitatif", often I would interpret certain segments as if they were particular depictions of more broad concepts. What I'm referring to is the description of certain characters, as well as certain dialogue options, that allow for a more general (and symbolic) reading of "Recitatif". One example is the description of Maggie.
Maggie is described as a somewhat weak character. She is harassed and pushed (the main symbolic conflict of the short story being Maggie's fall), and this harassment is allowed due to a physical disability. The veracity of this disability is, however, contested. The narrator, as well as the reader, are never sure of Maggie's true condition. Her muteness is never confirmed. Moreover, Maggie's appearance/behavior is infantilized and crooked (physically with her "legs like parentheses" (pp.2254) and her "stupid little hat" (pp.2255)). However, Maggie, though crippled by description, is a hard-working woman. In fact, Maggie's working routine seems exhaustive: "She worked from early in the morning till two o'clock (...)." (pp.2255). Upon first read, I was quick to connect this description to stereotyped depictions of African-American people. The use of stereotypes in "Recitatif" has been acknowledged in class; however I reckon Maggie's description was brushed aside in regards to its minstrel elements. Maggie's crooked legs and hat, for example, can be linked to minstrel cartoons of old. In fact, during the period "Recitatif" takes place, minstrel cartoon depictions of African-Americans were still being produced. The infamous depiction of Jim Crow himself depicts him with a twisted posture. His legs are bent unnaturally and he does wear a hat on his head. This hat is different from Maggie's, but this similarity between both characters is relevant enough to be pointed out. Moreover, just like the African-American slaves, Maggie has a rather unhealthy work environment and schedule. It'd be incorrect to compare Maggie's work with that of a slave's, but considering all the elements connecting Maggie to historical depictions of African-Americans, one must propose this idea.
And just like the American consciousness later accepted slaves as people, the narrator also contemplates over Maggie's humanity after cruelly describing her: "And it shames me even now to think there was somebody in there after all who heard us call her those names and couldn't tell on us (pp.2255)." This sentence could be, following the same logic applied until now, an allusion to the recognition of African-Americans as people by the American Society.
This interpretation can be a stretch. It can be completely wrong and misguided. However, I believe I am somewhat correct in my interpretation. The introduction of Maggie's character is brief -- it takes seconds to read through. But the way it is written has allowed me, the reader, to make these connections. And I believe they enhance the overall understanding of "Recitatif".
Both of the primary characters in Toni Morrison's "Recitatif," Twyla and Roberta, have unclear racial identities on purpose. This serves to emphasise the negative effects that racial prejudices and presumptions have on how the characters are viewed and handled.
Despite the fact that the girls' races are never mentioned openly, the narrative is replete with allusions to class and prejudices that apply to both black and white people. For instance, the girls' memories of the St. Bonny's shelter show the prejudices they had internalised about various racial groups and social strata.
Morrison also examines the topic of expectations and presumptions through the interactions between Twyla and Roberta. Twyla, who was raised by a single mother, and Roberta, who comes from a wealthy family, had quite different upbringings.
Throughout the text we see a very detailed description of the characters. One example of this is Maggie which is described as "the kitchen woman with legs like parenthesis". Also it is said that she is old, sandy-colored, wore a "really stupid little hat" and was short. Apart from this, other aspects are seen like class or stereotypes, as the narrator says that "even the New York City Puerto Ricans and the upstate Indians ignored us", showing that Roberta and herself were of very low status. This can also be seen with Twyla who lives in Newburgh. When she tells this to Roberta, she starts laughing possibly proving the point about stereotypes or expectations.
ReplyDeleteAS I was reading "Recitatif", often I would interpret certain segments as if they were particular depictions of more broad concepts. What I'm referring to is the description of certain characters, as well as certain dialogue options, that allow for a more general (and symbolic) reading of "Recitatif". One example is the description of Maggie.
ReplyDeleteMaggie is described as a somewhat weak character. She is harassed and pushed (the main symbolic conflict of the short story being Maggie's fall), and this harassment is allowed due to a physical disability. The veracity of this disability is, however, contested. The narrator, as well as the reader, are never sure of Maggie's true condition. Her muteness is never confirmed. Moreover, Maggie's appearance/behavior is infantilized and crooked (physically with her "legs like parentheses" (pp.2254) and her "stupid little hat" (pp.2255)). However, Maggie, though crippled by description, is a hard-working woman. In fact, Maggie's working routine seems exhaustive: "She worked from early in the morning till two o'clock (...)." (pp.2255).
Upon first read, I was quick to connect this description to stereotyped depictions of African-American people. The use of stereotypes in "Recitatif" has been acknowledged in class; however I reckon Maggie's description was brushed aside in regards to its minstrel elements. Maggie's crooked legs and hat, for example, can be linked to minstrel cartoons of old. In fact, during the period "Recitatif" takes place, minstrel cartoon depictions of African-Americans were still being produced. The infamous depiction of Jim Crow himself depicts him with a twisted posture. His legs are bent unnaturally and he does wear a hat on his head. This hat is different from Maggie's, but this similarity between both characters is relevant enough to be pointed out.
Moreover, just like the African-American slaves, Maggie has a rather unhealthy work environment and schedule. It'd be incorrect to compare Maggie's work with that of a slave's, but considering all the elements connecting Maggie to historical depictions of African-Americans, one must propose this idea.
And just like the American consciousness later accepted slaves as people, the narrator also contemplates over Maggie's humanity after cruelly describing her: "And it shames me even now to think there was somebody in there after all who heard us call her those names and couldn't tell on us (pp.2255)." This sentence could be, following the same logic applied until now, an allusion to the recognition of African-Americans as people by the American Society.
This interpretation can be a stretch. It can be completely wrong and misguided. However, I believe I am somewhat correct in my interpretation. The introduction of Maggie's character is brief -- it takes seconds to read through. But the way it is written has allowed me, the reader, to make these connections. And I believe they enhance the overall understanding of "Recitatif".
Both of the primary characters in Toni Morrison's "Recitatif," Twyla and Roberta, have unclear racial identities on purpose. This serves to emphasise the negative effects that racial prejudices and presumptions have on how the characters are viewed and handled.
ReplyDeleteDespite the fact that the girls' races are never mentioned openly, the narrative is replete with allusions to class and prejudices that apply to both black and white people. For instance, the girls' memories of the St. Bonny's shelter show the prejudices they had internalised about various racial groups and social strata.
Morrison also examines the topic of expectations and presumptions through the interactions between Twyla and Roberta. Twyla, who was raised by a single mother, and Roberta, who comes from a wealthy family, had quite different upbringings.