Recitatif themes

Running head: ANALYSIS ESSAY 1

ANALYSIS ESSAY 4

Analysis Essay: “Recitatif” And “A Loaf of Bread”

Professor Faucett

EH 102

Introduction

Various pieces of literature work present different themes and other literary devices even though two or more of them can coincidently have their thematic concerns matching. The examples of works whose literary aspects match in some perspectives are Toni Morrison and James Alan McPherson, who authored the two, works “Recitatif” and, “A Loaf of Bread” respectively. These literary works have instances of storytelling which played different roles intended by their respective authors and can only be determined upon critical evaluations of these works. The race and socio-economic statuses are the essential themes that both authors seek to explore using storytelling even though the characters’ script differ in some aspects. Both Morrison and Alan present their stories via writing, while others are aired on the television depending on the target audience’s perceived economic and social statuses. For instance, Harold Green and Mr. Reed are among the key characters that are portrayed to have been following the storytelling. Through the media and life issues has shaped their narrative and consequently develop the character's identity. Also, Morrison justifies how characters’ self-confidence and self-esteem are influenced by storytelling and their place in the society can be impacted by what they hear in different contexts as warranted by the two stories. Therefore, Morrison's work shows storytelling influences one's identity by shaping their self-confidence and self-esteem through the presentation of Mary and Twyla’s racism is a manner that is not precise. On the other hand, McPherson's text illustrates media and culture's power over narrative through how the news outlets convey the story of Mr. Green's injustice to his customers and how his selfishness exceeded his nature. This study seeks to focus on how storytelling shapes the personal and collective identity of a particular group of people.

The difference in people's identity is first shown from the relationship between the two girls, Twyla, and Roberta in the article “Recitatif” (Morrison). Toni Morrison explains how these two girls had to sleep in different beds yet in the same room for having different identities, and their relationship did not get off a good start when Twyla learned that she would share a room with a girl from a different race, “it was something else to be stuck in an in a strange place with a girl from a whole other race" (Morrison 303). The author challenges conventional belief about race and racism through a presentation that would leave the reader in a point where they cannot be sure about which race is prejudiced between the two. Hence, the readers will be forced to make their assumptions depending on their races, which their colleagues can have, different views which could also be justifiable (Kelly, 2017). Twyla’s exposure of her stand to Big Bozo justified how characters embrace their identity and feeling that those of others represented by Roberta are not worthier than them.

James Allan, in his work, “A Loaf of Bread” explores the challenges that Harold Green experiences as a groceries operator targeting African American customers. The author seeks to expose how people of color feel about themselves regarding the hiked prices which make them feel that their identity is a likely cause and perhaps the prices of commodities would have likely been fair had they been white (Kelly, 2017). According to the story by Allan, the customers compared their prices with those of other communities where products targeted the whites and noted that they are lower on the other side. Hence, the most probable cause of high prices in their ends is their identity, which differs with those of others.” A grocer named Harold Green was caught red-handed selling to one group of people the very same goods he sold at lower prices at similar outlets in better neighborhoods” (McPherson 269). However, in what seems to justify the perception of those customers, Harold continued to holds his pride even though he later resolved to sacrifice for the sake of his customers and family. This story is different from Toni Morrison's "Recitatif," where no identity is directly attributed to superiority, but the case of racism is made to depend on the reader's view conventionally.

Twyla and Roberta portray how the difference in identity-based on age or any other aspect could render one group in challenges by being mocked and deprived of freedom. The former character justified her love for food while at St. Bonny because of her mother's idea concerning supper was popcorn and a can of yoo-hoo (Morrison, 304). On the other hand, the girls whom they stayed together at the shelter wears make- up and would behave in a manner that was contrary to what Twyla and Roberta would live. The difference in identity made the older teenage girls intimidates to their younger counterparts in the shelter by chasing them and pulling their hair when they were spotted watching them when dancing (Morrison, 304). Morrison drops a reminder that even age difference and not race or other aspects could render one group in jeopardy. The vulnerability in one group of people in the society makes them have all burden by their stronger counterparts directed on them.

Raising voices concerning the unfairly priced commodities act as one of the solutions to address how certain people mistreat others based on the difference in identity. For instance, Harold’s customers announced on the news that “picked at his children’s school until Harold lowered the prices” (McPherson, 270). However, Green demanded that he would maintain his prices regardless of the threats even after his wife implored him to lower those prices to avoid much pressure from the customers. Despite later relenting and reducing the costs, Harold stated that his action would be done by any man regardless of the identity. For instance, he says, "if I close down, take my word on it, someone else would do what has to be done” (McPherson, 270). His statement is a justification that the battle between Harold and his customers could have nothing to do with an identity yet the customers would find it difficult to believe considering that the prices of commodities in other communities were lower.

Morrison points out the difficulty that Twyla has to connect with Roberta over her current interests when the latter grew richer than her sister. The disconnection between Twyla and Roberta’s behaviors and interests justifies that people identity might not be static and any changes render them on the new context and leaving their counterparts in previous ones (Kelly, 2017). For instance, Roberta undergoes a total transformation, including changing clothes and groceries to show how wealthy she is now, “Shoes, dress, everything lovely and summery and rich” (Morrison, 312).

Conclusion

The two stories approve how storytelling shapes the personal and collective identity of a particular group of people. Morrison, in "Recitatif," is dedicated to reflecting the transformation of lives and how character holds to the end and how people use their identity to intimidate others who are vulnerable in society. On the other hand, Allan, in his "A Loaf of Bread" shows how people in the society could be feeling inferior and how they resort to address their issues as a 'minority' group. Harold's customers perceive that higher prices in their commodities than those of other communities’ results from them being blacks, yet Harold feels that his action is right and anyone could do the same.

References

McPherson, James A. "A Loaf of Bread." The Seagull Book of Stories. Edited by Joseph Kelly, 2017, pp. 268-288.

Morrison, Toni. "Recitatif." The Seagull Book of Stories. Edited by Joseph Kelly, 2017, pp. 302-322.

Running head: ANALYSIS ESSAY

1

Analysis

Essay:

“

Recitatif

” And “

A Loaf

of

Bread

”

Professor Faucett

EH 102

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