Theme Of Identity In Joe Turner's Come And Gone

1. Identity: the themes of identify and the struggle to have an identity living in 1911 is very clear. First off, all their names are more likely than not, have been given to them by their slave owner. So in a sense, their names are not really their own. This connects back to the theme of movement and migration as well, for the protagonist Herald. Bynum even says this saying, “Now he’s got you bound up to where you can’t sing your own song. Couldn’t sing it them seven years ‘cause you was afraid he would snatch it from under you. But you still got it. You just forgot how to sing it.” (Pg. 70) While Herald Loomis is still searching for his wife, he is actually truly searching for his identity, which is personified as a “song”, that Joe Turner took from him over seven years ago.

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Music (3)/ guitar (16)/ song (54): The theme of music is very prevalent in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” The characters often use song to tell stories or express themselves. Often, the mention of “Joe Turner” comes in songs. On page 35 Bynum sings, “They tell me Joe Turner's come and gone, Ohhh Lordy, They tell me Joe Turner's come and gone, Ohhh Lordy, Got my man and gone.” The word “song” is mentioned over 50 times throughout the play. While song is a form of expression and communication, for the characters in the play it is also used as a form of