In Tony Morrison’s short story, the stereotypical mother figure was not always present for everyone in the story. Twyla and Roberta’s mothers lived differently, but neither could raise their children on their own. When both their mothers couldn’t raise their children, Big Bozo stepped in. Big Bozo influenced both of their lives when they became adults and had to make decisions. In “Recitatif” the mothering figures were very slim. Many different mothering styles were presented. As you look back through the story Mary and Big Bozo make different impacts, Twyla and Roberta’s mother influenced their children’s lives in two different ways, and ambiguities about mothering are present. In “Recitatif” Twyla’s orphanage leader made a large impact …show more content…
They were in the orphanage for the same reason because neither of their mothers had the ability to care for them properly, but they cared for them badly in different ways. Mary was never around enough to care for Twyla and Roberta’s mother nurtured her but was not in the best shape to support her. Now, as adults, Roberta and Twyla reflected their own mother’s ways and used them on their children. Roberta took many mothering features from her mother as a child. When Roberta became a mother she put her child’s needs first and wanted them to be heard. “They want to take my kids and send them out of the neighborhood. They don’t want to go”(Morrison). Roberta’s mother’s behavior has reflected on Roberta as an adult because she is more worried about her child’s education and safety than anything else. As Roberta took mothering features from her mom Twyla would do the same and use Mary’s actions to mother her child. Twyla was around for her child, but she did not think the rights and needs of her child were that important. “So what if they go to another school? My boy’s being bussed too, and I don’t mind. Why should you?”(Morrison). Mary’s behavior toward Twyla has a different take on Twyla as an adult than Roberta’s take. She is not worried about where Joseph gets an education as long as he is at a school he will be fine. Twyla is mirroring her mother’s life as an adult by not being that nurturing mother figure and looking for the best for her son. Even though Roberta is the better mother in the story Twyla should not be blamed for the way she mothers. We know she loves her child she just never had the nurturing from her mother as a child, so she does not know any