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Recitatif （宣叙）

By Toni Morrison

0707 外商（外商（ 22 ）班）班

邓素萍邓素萍

20070643431282007064343128

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"Recitatif" is Toni Morrison's only published short story. It was first published in 1983 in Confirmations: An Anthology of African American Women

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Morrison


Contents

About the Title1

Plot Summary2

Characterization3

Themes4

Significance of Maggie6

Comparison of the two race7

Symbolism5


About the title

The title alludes to a style of musical declamation that hovers between song and ordinary speech; it is used for dialogic( 对话体的 ) and narrative interludes during operas and oratories. The term “recitatif” also once included the now-obsolete （过时的） meaning, “the tone or rhythm peculiar to any language.” Both of these definitions suggest the story‘s episodic （插曲般的） nature, how each of the story's five sections happens in a register that is different from the respective ordinary lives of its two central characters, Roberta and Twyla.


The white people: Twyla(the narrator)Mary, The big girls in St. Bonny’s, Twyla’s parents in law etc.

Characters in the Story

The black people: Roberta, Maggie, Roberta’s mother.


The story is set over a period of more than 20 years, between the late 1950s and early 1980s.

The story‘s vignettes （小插曲） bring

together the rhythms of two lives for five, short moments, all of them narrated in Twyla's own voice. The story is, then, in several ways, Twyla's "recitatif."


Plot summary

First encounter

Twyla, whose name suggests the famous Twyla, whose name suggests the famous dancer, Twyla Tharp, and Roberta Fisk first meet dancer, Twyla Tharp, and Roberta Fisk first meet within the confines of a state home for children, within the confines of a state home for children, St. Bonaventure (St. Bonny‘s), because each has St. Bonaventure (St. Bonny‘s), because each has been taken away from her mother. Roberta’s been taken away from her mother. Roberta’s mother is sick; Twyla‘s mother “just likes to mother is sick; Twyla‘s mother “just likes to dance all night.” We learn immediately that the dance all night.” We learn immediately that the girls look different from one another: one is girls look different from one another: one is black, one is white. Despite their initially hostileblack, one is white. Despite their initially hostile（怀有敌意的）（怀有敌意的） feelings, they are drawn together feelings, they are drawn together because of their similar circumstances.because of their similar circumstances.


They turn out to be, in Maya Angelou‘s famous phrase, “more alike than unalike.” The eight-year-old girls were both “dumped” there. They become allies against the “big girls on the second floor” (who they call “gar-girls,” a name they get from mishearing the word “gargoyle” （怪兽状滴水嘴） ), as well as against the home’s “real orphans,” the children whose parents have died. They share a fascination with Maggie, the old, sandy-colored （沙色的） woman “with legs like parentheses （圆括符） " who works in the home's kitchen and who can't speak.


Gargoyles, Notre Dame, Paris（巴黎圣母院）


Twyla and Roberta are reminded of their differences on the Sunday that each of their mothers comes to visit and attend church with them. Twyla‘s mother Mary is dressed inappropriately; Roberta’s mother, wearing an enormous cross on her even more enormous chest, refuses to shake Mary‘s hand. Twyla experiences twin humiliations （蒙耻） : her mother’s inappropriate behavior shames her, and she feels slighted （蔑视） by Roberta's mother's refusal.


Second encounter

Twyla and Roberta meet again eight years later Twyla and Roberta meet again eight years later during the 1960s, when Twyla is “working behind during the 1960s, when Twyla is “working behind the counter at the Howard Johnson‘s on the the counter at the Howard Johnson‘s on the Thruway” and Roberta is sitting in a booth with Thruway” and Roberta is sitting in a booth with “two guys smothered in head and facial hair.” “two guys smothered in head and facial hair.” Roberta and her friends are on their way to the Roberta and her friends are on their way to the west coast to keep an appointment with Jimi west coast to keep an appointment with Jimi Hendrix. The episodeHendrix. The episode （插曲）（插曲） is brief, but long is brief, but long enough to make Twyla feel like an outsider in enough to make Twyla feel like an outsider in Roberta's world.Roberta's world.


Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)

A famous American A famous American guitarist, singer and guitarist, singer and songwriter songwriter


Third encounter

The third time Twyla and Robert meet is 20 years The third time Twyla and Robert meet is 20 years

after they first met at St. Bonny's. They are both after they first met at St. Bonny's. They are both

married and meet while shopping at the Food married and meet while shopping at the Food

Emporium, a new gourmet grocery store. Twyla Emporium, a new gourmet grocery store. Twyla

describes the encounter as a complete opposite describes the encounter as a complete opposite

of their last. They get along well and share of their last. They get along well and share

memories of the past. Roberta is rich and Twyla memories of the past. Roberta is rich and Twyla

is lower-middle-class. Twyla is married to a is lower-middle-class. Twyla is married to a

firefighter; Roberta is married to an IBM firefighter; Roberta is married to an IBM

executive. executive.


Fourth encounter

The next time the two women meet, "racial The next time the two women meet, "racial

strife" threatens Twyla's town of Newburgh, NY strife" threatens Twyla's town of Newburgh, NY

in the form of busing. As she drives by the in the form of busing. As she drives by the

school, Twyla sees Roberta there, picketing the school, Twyla sees Roberta there, picketing the

forced integration. Twyla is briefly threatened by forced integration. Twyla is briefly threatened by

the other protesters; Roberta doesn't come to the other protesters; Roberta doesn't come to

her aid. her aid.


Roberta's parting remark unsettles Twyla:Roberta's parting remark unsettles Twyla:"Maybe I am different now, Twyla. But you're "Maybe I am different now, Twyla. But you're not. You're the same little state kid who kicked not. You're the same little state kid who kicked a poor old black lady and threw your fatty joint a poor old black lady and threw your fatty joint and burned her hair when she was down on the and burned her hair when she was down on the ground. You kicked a black lady and you have ground. You kicked a black lady and you have the nerve to call me a bigot.“the nerve to call me a bigot.“

Twyla does not remember that Maggie was Twyla does not remember that Maggie was black. "Maggie wasn't black," she says. Twyla black. "Maggie wasn't black," she says. Twyla decides to join the counter-picketing across the decides to join the counter-picketing across the street from Roberta, where she spends a few street from Roberta, where she spends a few days hoisting signs that respond directly to days hoisting signs that respond directly to Roberta's sign.Roberta's sign.


Fifth encounter

We meet Twyla and Roberta once more; this We meet Twyla and Roberta once more; this

time it is in a coffee shop at Christmas, years time it is in a coffee shop at Christmas, years

later, probably in the early 1980s. Roberta later, probably in the early 1980s. Roberta

wants to discuss what she last said about wants to discuss what she last said about

Maggie. The conversation is sympathetic but Maggie. The conversation is sympathetic but

ends on an unresolved note--ends on an unresolved note--what happened twhat happened to Maggie?o Maggie? ““ Recitatif” ends with their Recitatif” ends with their

reconciliationreconciliation （和解）（和解） ..


Characterization

Morrison has an unusual approach to describing her characters. Though from the outset it is clear that Roberta and Twyla are of different races, Morrison does not disclose which girl is black and which is white. She does, however, offer rich and subtle descriptions of their ideas about racially sensitive issues, their social and economic status, their behavior, and their appearances. In this way, Morrison challenges readers to analyze their own assumptions about how these qualities may or may not be related to blackness and whiteness.


Themes

1)Race and Racism

The issue of race and racism is central to the The issue of race and racism is central to the

story. Twyla’s first response to rooming with story. Twyla’s first response to rooming with

Roberta at St. Bonny’s is to feel sick to her Roberta at St. Bonny’s is to feel sick to her

stomach. Throughout the story Twyla and stomach. Throughout the story Twyla and

Roberta’s friendship is inhibited by this sense of Roberta’s friendship is inhibited by this sense of

an uncrossable racial divide, played out against an uncrossable racial divide, played out against

the background of national racial tensions such as the background of national racial tensions such as

the busing crisis. Racial conflicts provide the main the busing crisis. Racial conflicts provide the main

turning points in the story’s plot.turning points in the story’s plot.


Some of descriptions may lead readers to come to conclusions about the characters races based on associations, but none is definitive. For example, when Roberta shows up at the Howard Johnson’s where Twyla works, on her way to see Jimi Hendrix, she’s described as having “hair so big and wild I could hardly see her face.” This may suggest that Roberta is black and wore an afro, a style for black hair popular in the 1960s. During this same period, however, hair and clothing styles (and music such as that of black rocker Hendrix) crossed over between black and white youths,

and many whites wore their hair big and wild.


Likewise, Roberta’s socioeconomic progress from Likewise, Roberta’s socioeconomic progress from an illiterate foster care child to a rich executive’s an illiterate foster care child to a rich executive’s wife may wife may suggestsuggest that she is white that she is white because of the because of the greater economic power of whites in generalgreater economic power of whites in general. In . In Twyla’s words, “Everything is so easy for them.” Twyla’s words, “Everything is so easy for them.” Although economic class can be associated with Although economic class can be associated with race, there are plenty of white firemen and black race, there are plenty of white firemen and black executives. Race divides Twyla and Roberta again executives. Race divides Twyla and Roberta again and again, and Morrison’s unconventional and again, and Morrison’s unconventional approach to character description suggests that it approach to character description suggests that it is the way that blacks and whites are defined is the way that blacks and whites are defined (and define themselves) against each other that (and define themselves) against each other that leads to this divide.leads to this divide.


2)DifferenceThe story also works to make a more general point The story also works to make a more general point about about how differenceshow differences among people are understood. among people are understood. Though there are people of many races living in the Though there are people of many races living in the United States and even many people of mixed racial United States and even many people of mixed racial background, race is often understood in terms of a background, race is often understood in terms of a black-white difference. At one point Twyla comments black-white difference. At one point Twyla comments on her protest sign slogan, admitting that “actually on her protest sign slogan, admitting that “actually my sign didn’t make sense without Roberta’s.” This my sign didn’t make sense without Roberta’s.” This may be understood as a metaphor for the idea of may be understood as a metaphor for the idea of difference that Morrison expresses in the story. The difference that Morrison expresses in the story. The signs or codes used to suggest Twyla’s race don’t signs or codes used to suggest Twyla’s race don’t make sense without an opposing set of signs or codes make sense without an opposing set of signs or codes that define Roberta in contrast.that define Roberta in contrast.


3)Friendship Twyla and Roberta’s relationship gives shape to the Twyla and Roberta’s relationship gives shape to the plot of the story, which traces their interactions plot of the story, which traces their interactions over more than twenty years. The story explores over more than twenty years. The story explores the possibilities and the failures of their friendship. the possibilities and the failures of their friendship. The first sentence of “Recitatif,” “My mother The first sentence of “Recitatif,” “My mother danced all night and Roberta’s was sick,” danced all night and Roberta’s was sick,” establishes that Twyla and Roberta’s situations are establishes that Twyla and Roberta’s situations are parallel on the one hand, yet opposite on the other. parallel on the one hand, yet opposite on the other. It is this quality that makes friendship between the It is this quality that makes friendship between the girls such a complicated prospect. While Twyla’s girls such a complicated prospect. While Twyla’s mother is healthy and attractive, but immoral, mother is healthy and attractive, but immoral, Roberta’s is sick and unattractive, but upstanding. Roberta’s is sick and unattractive, but upstanding.


Besides, the girls share the scarring experience of Besides, the girls share the scarring experience of having been left in an orphanage by their living having been left in an orphanage by their living mothers, and their feelings of abandonment allow mothers, and their feelings of abandonment allow them an implicit sympathy and sense of alliance. them an implicit sympathy and sense of alliance. Throughout the story the women’s situations Throughout the story the women’s situations mirror each other, with certain correspondences mirror each other, with certain correspondences bringing them together and suggesting the bringing them together and suggesting the potential for a deep and genuine friendship, but potential for a deep and genuine friendship, but with just as many differences causing conflict, with just as many differences causing conflict, distrust, and resentment. The end of the story distrust, and resentment. The end of the story suggests some degree of reconciliation, but the suggests some degree of reconciliation, but the possibility of enduring friendship is still tenuous.possibility of enduring friendship is still tenuous.


Symbolism

The style of the story is realistic and its symbolism is understated. Food, for example, recurs throughout the plot and is symbolic of the motif of mothering, nurturing, and abandonment. At St. Bonny’s Roberta gives Twyla her extra food, symbolizing the symbiotic（共生的） alliance between the girls. Later, when her mother visits, Twyla spills her candy on the floor, and later this is what they eat for lunch. Twyla’s mother does not understand what her daughter needs, so Twyla is literally as well as symbolically undernourished. Twyla reports that “the wrong food is always with the wrong people. Maybe that’s why I got into waitress work later — to match up the right people with the right food.”


Not only is food symbolic of mothering and the lack thereof, it is also more generally symbolic of the unfair or unequal ways that sustaining resources are distributed. In this light, it is significant that the despised( 鄙视 ) and pitied figure of Maggie is employed at the orphanage as a kitchen woman. Both Twyla and Roberta associate her with their mothers’ shortcomings in offering them care, and also with their own capacity for unfairness and disloyalty.


The Significance of Maggie

Maggie, the mute kitchen woman, is central to Twyla and Roberta’s memories of St. Bonny’s and to their relationship to one another. Each makes a different assumption about Maggie’s race.

Shifting memories/ shifting meanings: Maggie fell Maggie didn’t fall, was knocked down Twyla and Roberta both kicked Maggie, who was black Twyla didn’t kick Maggie, but wanted to (associated Maggie

with her mother) Roberta didn’t kick Maggie, but wanted to (associated Maggie

with her own mother) Maggie issue still unresolved


Comparison between the two race

achieve personal spiritual improvement

Caringwith patience color-conscious social knowledge Spirit of Resistance

Compared with the white, the black Compared with the white, the black are full of the following virtues:are full of the following virtues:

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