Toni Cade Bambara's Short Story 'Two Birds, One Stone'

Two Birds, One Stone

“Energy and persistence conquer all things” (Spark People). The quote spoken by Benjamin Franklin mentions the thought of persistence leading to success. The idea is indicated in Toni Cade Bambara’s short story, “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird”, where two cameramen show up on Granny Cora and Granddaddy Cain’s front yard. Following the persistence of the family, the cameramen are forced to leave. The concept of persistence is woven into Bambara’s short story, “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird”, displaying the theme that assertion of and patience with one’s values will be successful with persistence when privacy is questioned. Bambara uses symbolism and characterization to demonstrate this theme.

One way Bambara uses symbolism to support the theme that assertion of and patience with one’s values will be successful

At the beginning of the story, the author describes how Granddaddy is very patient when it comes to Granny Cora, his wife. Granny is a control freak who does not like when people touch her things, so when the cameramen show up, she is very suspicious. After a long day of hunting, Granddaddy returns home and right away, Granny tells him to tell the cameramen to get out of her flower bed. At the very end of the story, after Granddaddy smashes the camera, he says, “‘You standin in the misses’ flower bed,’ say Granddaddy. ‘ This is our own place’” (Bambara 7). Granddaddy is very patient with the cameramen before they leave, and with persistence, success followed, and the cameramen finally left. Granddaddy’s use of the words “our” and “own” shows that his pride of his house is very strong, so he does not want anyone invading his land or Granny’s flowerbed. When privacy is invaded, assertion and persistence can be