Predictability in Toni Morrison’s novels
Critics have noted that characters in Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison’s novels are predictable with some type of southern connection that depicts African-American life at various time periods in history. Her novels often raise questions about race, gender, and address issues that are significant to contemporary readers. For millions of African Americans, the south was called home until the massive migration to the north. However, for many, including Morrison’s parents, the south held historical and cultural significance. During the 1950s, segregation still existed, but in the armed forces, some units were being integrated and leaning toward one unified military. Nevertheless, the United States continued to practice the separate but equal racist policies. In Morrison’s novel, Home (2012), she explores the pain and suffering of a young black man returning to America from the Korean Conflict. …show more content…
Frank decided that they both needed something to represent redemption, so he took Cee’s healing quilt and retrieved the bones of the man who gave up his life to save his son. Frank and Cee witnessed the man being buried when they were children, but he was not given a proper burial, just dumped in the hole like trash. The quilt became the shroud of lilac, crimson, yellow and dark navy blue (Morrison 143). They found the sweet bay tree—split down the middle, beheaded, undead-spreading his arms one to the right and one to the left, and there at the base Frank placed the bone-filled quilt, to resemble a coffin. He dug a four or five inch deep hole and placed the coffin in and made a wooden marker with the words,” Here Stand a Man” (Morrison 145). The bay tree was a symbol of life for Frank and Cee; it was split down the middle, half dead with thoughts of life’s decisions but still living with arms stretched to receive and give
Critics have noted that characters in Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison’s novels are predictable with some type of southern connection that depicts African-American life at various time periods in history. Her novels often raise questions about race, gender, and address issues that are significant to contemporary readers. For millions of African Americans, the south was called home until the massive migration to the north. However, for many, including Morrison’s parents, the south held historical and cultural significance. During the 1950s, segregation still existed, but in the armed forces, some units were being integrated and leaning toward one unified military. Nevertheless, the United States continued to practice the separate but equal racist policies. In Morrison’s novel, Home (2012), she explores the pain and suffering of a young black man returning to America from the Korean Conflict. …show more content…
Frank decided that they both needed something to represent redemption, so he took Cee’s healing quilt and retrieved the bones of the man who gave up his life to save his son. Frank and Cee witnessed the man being buried when they were children, but he was not given a proper burial, just dumped in the hole like trash. The quilt became the shroud of lilac, crimson, yellow and dark navy blue (Morrison 143). They found the sweet bay tree—split down the middle, beheaded, undead-spreading his arms one to the right and one to the left, and there at the base Frank placed the bone-filled quilt, to resemble a coffin. He dug a four or five inch deep hole and placed the coffin in and made a wooden marker with the words,” Here Stand a Man” (Morrison 145). The bay tree was a symbol of life for Frank and Cee; it was split down the middle, half dead with thoughts of life’s decisions but still living with arms stretched to receive and give