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Trumpet Jackie Moody Analysis

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Walking into the world created by Jackie Kay’s novel Trumpet is much like walking into the world of mysterious outcomes, and just as you find the answers to the previous questions asked another turn awaits the corner. Between the multiple perspectives, Kay creates a complex idea between past and present often shown through dark and bittersweet reenactments of the characters’ memories. Josephine Moore the young light hearted girl takes a quick turn when she transforms into the peculiar, but talented trumpet player, Joss Moody. In a heavy battle with a concrete truth being concealed and an attempt to push away all perspectives and opinions of the outside world, Joss Moody seeks to make one statement true, in order to find yourself in the pool …show more content…

He strips himself bare, takes everything off, till he’s barely human” (Kay 131). As the trumpet plays it shows that Joss sheds every little viewpoint shown in the memories of all the characters. The fog of Joss Moody slowly clears with every note he plays, and as he plays he sheds himself more and more “The place down there: it forces him to witness his own death. He watches open-mouthed the card he’s going to be dealt. He watched himself in flashback” (Kay 132). Anything and everything that made Joss Moody now is dwindling away: The picture changes with the light. He can taste himself transforming. The body changes shape. From girl to young woman to young man to old man to old woman. The old woman sits up on the cold table and looks straight into his eyes. She says, ‘Who are you kidding?’ He watches the flame eat the body up. He is an ear man. He can play it all by ear. He is bending the ears of everyone at the bar. (Kay 133) and now that it is gone, it allows Joss Moody to slowly be that “small black mark” (Kay 131). In consequence, Joss sheds himself of everything that he is said to be, even his own doubts, then

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