Unit 4 Embedded Assessment: Literary Analysis Essay
In the novel “If you Come Softly” Jacqueline Woodson uses characterization and character complexity to express the theme of switching relationships to connect with different individuals. Jeremiah and Ellie both display code switching throughout the novel when shifting between multiple circles. Jeremiah displays different personas and acts differently with the relationships between him and Ellie, him and his family, and him and his friends. In the novel, Ellie does not have many friends, so she tends to code switch between Jeremiah and her family.
Jeremiah often uses code switching to attempt to connect with each person between his multiple relationships. In chapter 5, Jeremiah is talking to his teammates about life, basketball, etc., but he is using different words than he usually does with Ellie or with his parents. For example, one of his teammates goes, “Get my game on like you, I’ll be amped-know what i’m saying,” (Woodson 62). Everyone Jeremiah relates to has a certain language and tone that they speak and act with, and Jeremiah often tends to “switch” to connect with each person or group. Jacqueline Woodson provides us with many instances where Jeremiah and Ellie feel more connected and comfortable with each other than with their friends and family. For instance,
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Therefore, she uses code switching much less than Jeremiah. Although Ellie’s lack of relationships is one factor, it isn’t the only component shown. When Jeremiah and Ellie are skipping class and walking to the park, a woman asks Ellie “Are you all right?” (Woodson 106). This causes Jeremiah to feel annoyed and leads to another reason Jeremiah uses code switching, feeling like everywhere him and Ellie go, he has to be careful or change the way he acts/talks in public. This woman asked Ellie that question because she was worried about Jeremiah and