ipl-logo

How Does Joyce Carol Oates Use The Hummingbird Motif In Blonde

300 Words2 Pages
In Blonde, by Joyce Carol Oates, the author uses the hummingbird motif as a modernist element to reinforce the fragmented perspectives in the novel. For example, Norma Jeane is fascinated by hummingbirds and how they “can fly sideways & backward[s]” and she compares this attribute to “thinking your thoughts can fly anywhere” (208). Hummingbirds have the unique ability to fly in all directions, which is comparable to the nonlinear format Oates uses to structure this novel; this stylistic choice allows readers to view Norma Jeane through a narrative that shifts through many different perspectives. Additionally, Oates forces readers to view Norma Jeane through many different lenses to challenge them to discover the truth about her. Another
Open Document