Recitatif By Toni Morrison Character Analysis

This essay will explain the tone and symbolisms that represent the short story Recitatif, written by Toni Morrison. Easily grabbing the attention of all from the very beginning, Morrison tone in this story come across extremely emotional though some might say she is also extremely upfront with her ideas on the subject. However, in reality, she hides behind many metaphors. Masking her true feelings behind the main characters, Twyla and Roberta and how she perceives their reactions to the situations Morrison places them in. Recitatif is set during three different time periods, all of which saw radical racial tension shifts in culture within the United states the following will prove that while Twyla and Roberta have gone through the same circumstances come out with very different views. Morrison begins her essay by describing the situation which brought both Twyla and Roberta to the shelter know as “St. Bonny's”(1). An analysis of Recitatif, found on LitCharts explains how Twyla’s, “mother’s dancing and Roberta’s mother’s illness, both of which are ailments that prevent them from fulfilling their role as parents.” (2). She continues by describing the shelter from Twyla's point of view, “here were four to a room, and when Roberta and me came, there was a shortage of state kids, so we

Twyla being for and Roberta being against, places the two woman in yet another stage of adversity. Morrison in the mind of Twyla writes, “I found myself driving along Hudson Street out there by the school they were trying to integrate and saw a line of women marching.(...) Roberta looked over and when she saw me she waved. I didn't wave back, but I didn't move either.”(1). This is the start of the final rift between Twyla and Roberta. After waving Roberta walks up to Twyla’s car, they argue and then all the woman in the picket start shaking Twyla’s