Home Toni Morrison Analysis

In the 1950’s-80’s racism was more prevalent during this time than it is today. In Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” these racial prejudices are experienced by Twyla and Roberta along with class issues at the time. Twyla and Roberta were both put into an orphanage whenever their mothers were not able to care for them because of personal reasons. One girl was black and the other white, but it was not mentioned who was what race. Twyla’s mother danced all night and Roberta’s mother was ill. These factors played a huge role on both girls thoughts and actions. Race and class issues reflect the prejudice experienced by Twyla and Roberta in Toni Morrison’s short story,“Recitatif” which shapes their life views.

'Recitatif', by Toni Morrison, is a profound narrative that I believe is meant to invite readers to search for a buried connotation of the experiences that the main characters, Twyla and Roberta, face as children and as they are reunited as adults. Some of the story?s values and meanings involving race, friendship and abandonment begin to emerge as the plot thickens; however, more messages become hidden and remain unrecognized, even until the very last sentence.

Toni Morrison, the infamous novelist, took the stand as a concerned citizen of the United States when she wrote a public letter to presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. At the time, the country was divided with contrasting opinions on George W. Bush, which seemed to block the focus of the candidates’ elections. Morrison mentioned this issue as one of her reasons for writing the endorsement, when she wrote, “One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this one one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril.” Morrison addressed her personal thoughts on the two presidential candidates, and gave reasoning as for why she chose Barack Obama rather than Hillary Clinton. Overall, Morrison created a very concerned tone regarding the United States and its political future, using phrases such as “multiple crisis facing us” and “peril” to describe the issues that faced the country. Furthermore, when describing Obama’s political future, the tone was much more optimistic and light. Morrison used phrases such as

Two young girls, coalescing on a grass-laden field while lying on their stomachs, dig a hole in unspoken harmony. A picture of youth and innocence, this scene depicts an innocuous moment which the two girls share as a result of their juvenescence--or does it? In Toni Morrison 's Sula, this scene, among others, appears at first to be both irrelevant to the novel’s underlying theme and out of place with regard to the rest of the plot. Yet, when analyzed further, the literary devices that Morrison uses in these scenes bring readers to a vastly different conclusion. These scenes serve as windows into the mind of Morrison and even into the larger themes present in the text. So, perhaps two girls sharing a seemingly casual experience is not as

“Soldier’s Home” is a story by Ernest Hemingway that symbolizes how a World War 1 veteran is faced with many difficulties when transitioning into society after war. Real life finds its way into Hemingway’s writing often mirroring some of his own challenges giving the reader a sense of familiarity. Most notably, Hemingway’s description of getting used to a life without the backdrop of war in “Soldier’s Home” shows credibility, most likely from his own experience of returning home from the battlefield.

In 1983, Toni Morrison published the only short story she would ever create. The controversial story conveys an important idea of what race is and if it really matter in the scheme of life. This story takes place during the time period of the Civil Rights Movement. The idea of civil rights was encouraged by the government but not enforced by the states, leaving many black Americans suffering every day. In Morrison’s short story Recitatif, Morrison manipulates the story’s diction to describe the two women’s races interchangeably resulting in the confusion of the reader. Because Morrison never establishes the “black character” or the “white character”, the reader is left guessing the race of the two main characters throughout the whole

Wellesley college graduates should try their best to forge a productive future for themselves while being mindful of the past, said Toni Morrison.

There is a deep and direct connection between the war trauma and the working of that individual's society and environment. Returning from war they do not feel like themselves. They feel out of place, as if they do not belong and they need to justify their acts. They try to form bonds together trying to build for themselves inner peace with that they did was right. An individual's world becomes an far more dangerous place everyday. Every sound, every sudden movement, every flash of light, every sudden word becomes a message of doom, like a bullet. When they are faced with events which trigger their danger response they got to their safe place trying to forget their past suffering. “Whenever i walk out the door and enter the crowded world, i can feel my heart race in rapid speed, and my vision will blur with my mind in its heels, and i will find it hard to breathe because what if all those people can see how i feel. It's like a target on my back, who can see me is not up to me and it's frustrating because the un-known in each day is killing me”(BGT, 2013). They walk into the world unknowing of what could happen to trigger them. Their anxiety raises, they cannot face it so some hide from the world in isolation.”The intercom squeaked and said “order”.”mama burger and fries,” Norman Bowker said. “Affirmative, copy clear. No rootie-tootie? “Rootie-tootie?” “ You

The effect of combat on the human mind has been noticed often, but very seldom studied. Since World War II and the Vietnam War, America has seen how war veterans have been affected after combat—sometimes, it makes the news. 11% of America’s homeless population are veterans, and most suffer from mental illness as well as substance abuse issues, but often times, this is swept under the rug. Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse-Five, was a WWII veteran himself and understood how war changes people firsthand. In Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim is drafted for war during World War II and is sent to Germany. He survives the bombing of Dresden, just like Vonnegut did himself. Kurt Vonnegut creates veteran and civilian characters in Slaughterhouse-Five in order to express that humans are

Numerous people all over the states join a military branch. Some are forced with war and others are not. Soldiers that have war experience might experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when returning home. In the story of “Soldier Home”, Harold Krebs seems to have quite a few symptoms of this disorder. Prior to his war services, Krebs experiences conformity, connections, and his faith; however, after the war he has a difficult time adjusting back to civilian life.

Soldier’s Home is a story about the experiences of a soldier returning from war. The narrative starts with a description of an image or photograph of Harold Krebs. Krebs is the main character of this story. He was a young man who was attending the Methodist College in Kansas before he had to enlist in the Marines to find in the war (Hemingway 111-116). The opening picture is an increasingly significant source of contrast between the young man who went to war and the one who comes back who has become silent and alienated after coming home. Krebs comes back in 1919 even though the war ended in 1918. His return is not marked by celebrations and parades that were often given to the young soldiers who had managed to come home early. Rather, Krebs finds out that the people are not overly excited about his news of the war unless he lies and exaggerates about his role during the war (Hemingway 111-116).

In chapter 9 of Home, Frank is recounting his time in North Korea when he tells the reader “Korea / You can’t imagine it because you weren’t there” (93), Morrison uses this line to make the statement that the reader can never truly understand the traumatic things Frank experienced in North Korea. To exemplify this point, the event that took place at the church convention can be observed. When Frank is grabbing food, Lily watches Frank run away “when a little girl with slanty eyes reached up over the opposite edge of the table to grab a cupcake” (76-77). The action of Frank during his episode is a clear indication that Korea has affected him in a way the reader will never understand. Not many people can say that they have had the same traumatic

In the short story “Soldiers Home” written by Ernest Hemingway shares a story about a man named Harold Krebs. He arrived home years after the war was over and when he wanted to talk about his experience no one seemed to care enough to listen to him. As one could imagine, returning home after years serving in the war the individual comes back a completely different person. They may get severe PTSD, anxiety disorder or depression. That was definitely the case with Krebs, he came home and couldn't talk about the things he witnessed and on top of that he was completely stripped of his humanity.

Home is Tony Morrison’s fictional account of a Korean War veteran’s experiences after returning to America. The veteran, Frank Money, faces particular challenges because he is a black man in 1950s America. Frank is attempting to return to his home state of Georgia in order to save his little sister, Cee, from danger. Along the way he faces the pitfalls of being a black man and a veteran. By writing from multiple perspectives, Morrison is able to compare Frank’s experience to that of other black people in America, especially Cee’s. By the end of the novel, Frank and Cee have experienced an arc of redemption and self-realization. Home displays the dual trauma experienced from American war and racism.

In her novel Beloved, Toni Morrison utilizes a circular narrative to emphasize the similarities, or lack thereof, between her characters. In Philip Page’s article, “Circularity in Toni Morrison’s Beloved,” he writes, “The plot is developed through repetition and variation of one or more core-images in overlapping waves... And it is developed through... the spiraling reiteration of larger, mythical acts such as birth, death, rebirth, quest-journeys, and the formation and disintegration of families” (36). By repeating certain themes or images, Page asserts that Morrison is able to develop her plot in a manner that emphasizes the ways in which the institution of slavery has transformed Sethe’s life. From escaping slavery and killing her daughter, to becoming a recluse in her community, slavery has transformed how Sethe thinks and acts, even after reaching freedom. Through her circular narrative, Morrison highlights the similarities between Sethe and Beloved as each is hoping to find a new life as they arrive at 124 Bluestone Road. However, this narrative also enhances the inherent differences between Sethe and Beloved, Sethe’s actions are usually based on a selfless desire, whereas Beloved can only selfishly consume. With these similar and contrasting qualities, Morrison is able to describe the complex nature of Sethe and Beloved’s relationship.