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Toni Morrison's Recitatif: A Masterpiece of Ambiguity and Music in Short Fiction (Full Text Pdf)


FULL Toni Morrison Recitatif Full Text Pdf




If you are looking for a short story that explores the complex issues of race, identity, memory, and music in American society, you might want to read Recitatif by Toni Morrison. This story, published in 1983, is one of the few works of fiction that Morrison wrote, and it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of literary art. In this article, we will provide you with a full summary and analysis of Recitatif, as well as a link to download the full text pdf of the story. We will also discuss why Recitatif is an important and relevant work for today's readers.




FULL Toni Morrison Recitatif Full Text Pdf



Introduction




What is Recitatif?




Recitatif is a short story that tells the story of two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who meet at a state home for orphaned and abandoned children. They come from different racial backgrounds, but the story never reveals which one is black and which one is white. Instead, the story relies on clues and hints that challenge the reader's assumptions and stereotypes about race. The story follows their encounters over several decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s, as they grow up in different social and economic circumstances. Their relationship is marked by both friendship and conflict, as they struggle to understand each other and themselves.


Who is Toni Morrison?




Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a Nobel Prize-winning American writer, editor, and professor. She is best known for her novels that explore the experiences of African American women in history and culture. Some of her most famous works include The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Beloved, Jazz, Paradise, and A Mercy. She also wrote essays, lectures, and criticism on topics such as literature, politics, race, gender, and art. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 for her "visionary force and poetic import" that "gives life to an essential aspect of American reality". She was also honored with the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and many other accolades.


Why is Recitatif important?




Recitatif is important because it challenges the reader to question their own perceptions and prejudices about race and identity. By withholding the racial identities of the main characters, Morrison forces the reader to pay attention to other aspects of their personalities, such as their values, beliefs, emotions, actions, and interactions. She also shows how race is a social construct that changes over time and context, rather than a fixed biological fact. She exposes how race affects people's lives in subtle and overt ways, such as their access to education, health care, employment, justice, and culture. She also explores how race intersects with other factors such as class, gender, religion, politics, and history. Recitatif is a powerful and provocative story that invites the reader to reflect on their own positionality and responsibility in a diverse and complex society.


Summary of Recitatif




The first encounter




The story begins with Twyla narrating her arrival at St. Bonny's, a state home for children who are not wanted by their parents. She is eight years old and she is scared and lonely. She meets Roberta, another girl who is also new at the home. They are assigned to share a room together. Twyla says that they are of different races, but she does not specify which one is black and which one is white. She only says that her mother told her to stay away from people like Roberta, and that Roberta's mother would not want to touch her. They soon become friends, however, as they bond over their love for music and their dislike for the older girls who bully them. They also share a common fear of Maggie, a mute and bowlegged kitchen woman who works at the home. They witness Maggie being pushed and kicked by the older girls, but they do not intervene or help her.


The second encounter




The story jumps to four years later, when Twyla and Roberta meet again by chance at a diner on the highway. They are both teenagers now, and they have left St. Bonny's. Twyla works as a waitress at the diner, while Roberta is on her way to see Jimi Hendrix with two older boys. They greet each other warmly, but they also notice how different they look and act. Twyla wears a simple blue and white uniform, while Roberta wears a fashionable outfit with a fur jacket and earrings. Twyla listens to pop music, while Roberta listens to rock music. They talk about their mothers and their lives, but they also argue about Maggie. Twyla remembers that Maggie was black, while Roberta remembers that she was white. They also disagree about whether they should have helped her or not.


The third encounter




The story moves to another decade later, when Twyla and Roberta meet again at a grocery store in Newburgh, where Twyla lives with her husband and son. They are both adults now, and they have different lifestyles and opinions. Twyla is a working-class housewife who drives a Volkswagen, while Roberta is a wealthy socialite who drives a Jaguar. Twyla is against busing, a policy that aims to integrate schools by transporting students from different neighborhoods, while Roberta is in favor of it. They encounter each other at a picket line outside the school where Twyla's son goes and where Roberta's son wants to go. They exchange insults and accusations, and they bring up Maggie again. Roberta claims that Maggie was black and that she and Twyla kicked her when they were at St. Bonny's, while Twyla denies both charges.


The fourth encounter




The story shifts to another decade later, when Twyla and Roberta meet again at an expensive restaurant in New York City. They are both middle-aged now, and they have undergone some changes and challenges. Twyla has divorced her husband and opened a successful boutique, while Roberta has remarried a famous movie producer and traveled the world. They recognize each other and decide to have a drink together. They apologize for their past behavior and try to reconnect as friends. They talk about their mothers, who have both passed away, and their children, who have grown up. They also talk about Maggie again, but this time they are more confused and uncertain about what happened to her. Roberta says that she lied about kicking Maggie, but she also says that she is not sure if Maggie was black or white.


The final encounter




The story ends with Twyla and Roberta meeting again at Christmas time in front of a department store in New York City. They are both older now, and they have reached a point of acceptance and reconciliation. They hug each other and exchange gifts. They also admit that they do not know what race Maggie was, and that it does not matter anymore. They realize that Maggie was a symbol of their own vulnerability and guilt, and that they have projected their own fears and fantasies onto her. They wonder what happened to Maggie after they left St. Bonny's, and whether she is still alive or not. They hope that someone helped her or loved her at some point in her life.


Analysis of Recitatif




The theme of race and identity




Morrison also shows how race and identity are not fixed or static, but rather dynamic and fluid. They change over time and context, depending on the historical, social, political, and cultural forces that shape them. For example, Twyla and Roberta have different experiences and perspectives on race depending on the era they live in, such as the civil rights movement, the busing controversy, or the multiculturalism trend. They also have different interactions and relationships with people of other races, such as their mothers, their husbands, their children, their friends, and their enemies. They sometimes identify with each other as women or as friends, and sometimes oppose each other as rivals or as enemies.


Morrison also explores how race and identity affect people's lives in various ways, such as their access to opportunities, resources, privileges, and rights. For example, Twyla and Roberta have different levels of education, income, status, and power depending on their racial backgrounds. They also face different challenges and obstacles, such as discrimination, prejudice, violence, and injustice. They sometimes benefit from or suffer from their racial identities, and sometimes they try to hide or change them.


The role of memory and ambiguity




Another theme of Recitatif is memory and ambiguity, and how they influence people's understanding of themselves and others. Morrison uses memory as a narrative device to structure the story into five sections that correspond to the five encounters between Twyla and Roberta. Each section reveals a different aspect of their relationship and their personalities, as well as a different version of what happened to Maggie. However, these memories are not reliable or consistent. They are often distorted or incomplete by the passage of time, the influence of emotions, the pressure of expectations, or the interference of other sources.


Morrison also uses ambiguity as a literary technique to create suspense and mystery in the story. She leaves many details unclear or uncertain, such as the racial identities of Twyla and Roberta, the fate of Maggie, or the meaning of Recitatif. She invites the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination and interpretation. She also challenges the reader to question their own certainty and accuracy about what they know and what they think they know.


The use of music and symbolism




A third theme of Recitatif is music and symbolism, and how they convey messages and emotions that words cannot. Morrison uses music as a motif to connect Twyla and Roberta throughout the story. They both love music and use it to express themselves and communicate with each other. They also use music to mark their differences and preferences. For example, Twyla likes pop music such as Bobby Vinton and Elvis Presley, while Roberta likes rock music such as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. They also use music to indicate their moods and feelings. For example, Twyla sings "Nothing can change this love I have for you" when she is happy with Roberta at St. Bonny's, while Roberta sings "Whole Lotta Love" when she is angry with Twyla at the grocery store.


Morrison also uses symbolism as a device to represent abstract ideas or concepts in the story. She uses Maggie as a symbol of vulnerability and guilt that haunts Twyla and Roberta throughout their lives. Maggie is mute and bowlegged, which makes her an easy target for abuse and neglect. She is also ambiguous in her race and role in the story. She represents the part of Twyla and Roberta that they want to forget or deny. She also represents the part of society that is marginalized or oppressed by racism and violence.


Conclusion




Recap of the main points




In conclusion, Recitatif is a short story by Toni Morrison that explores the complex issues of race, identity, memory, and music in American society. It tells the story of two girls who meet at a state home for children who are not wanted by their parents. They come from different racial backgrounds but they become friends despite their differences. The story follows their encounters over several decades as they grow up in different social and economic circumstances. Their relationship is marked by both friendship and conflict as they struggle to understand each other and themselves.


The story challenges the reader to question their own perceptions and prejudices about race by withholding the racial identities of the main characters. It also shows how race is a social construct that changes over time and context rather than a fixed biological fact. It exposes how race affects people's lives in subtle and overt ways such as their access to opportunities, resources, privileges, and rights. It also explores how race intersects with other factors such as class, gender, religion, politics, and history.


The story also uses memory and ambiguity as narrative and literary techniques to create suspense and mystery in the story. It reveals how memory is unreliable and inconsistent, and how ambiguity invites the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination and interpretation. It also uses music and symbolism as motifs and devices to convey messages and emotions that words cannot. It uses Maggie as a symbol of vulnerability and guilt that haunts the main characters throughout their lives.


Implications and recommendations




Recitatif is an important and relevant work for today's readers because it offers a unique and insightful perspective on the issues of race and identity that are still prevalent and problematic in our society. It encourages the reader to think critically and creatively about these issues, and to challenge their own assumptions and stereotypes. It also invites the reader to empathize with the main characters, and to recognize their own vulnerability and guilt. It also suggests that music can be a powerful tool for communication and connection, and that symbolism can be a meaningful way of expression and understanding.


We recommend that you read Recitatif by Toni Morrison if you are interested in learning more about the issues of race and identity in American society. You can download the full text pdf of the story here: https://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/sweetland/Home/Instructors/Teaching%20Resources/Morrison,%20Toni%20-%20Recitatif.pdf. You can also watch a video of Toni Morrison reading and discussing the story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-0RERj1z8U. You can also find more information and resources about Toni Morrison and her works here: https://www.tonimorrisonsociety.org/.


FAQs




What is the meaning of Recitatif?




The meaning of Recitatif is not explicitly stated in the story, but it can be inferred from the context and the clues. Recitatif is a musical term that refers to a type of vocal composition that is between singing and speaking. It is often used in operas or musical dramas to convey dialogue or narration. It is characterized by its flexibility and variability in rhythm, pitch, tone, and expression. It can also be seen as a metaphor for the story itself, which is between fiction and reality, between black and white, between memory and imagination.


Who is black and who is white in Recitatif?




The racial identities of Twyla and Roberta are never revealed in the story, leaving the reader to guess based on clues such as their names, appearance, speech, behavior, preferences, affiliations, and contexts. However, these clues are often contradictory or ambiguous, making it impossible to determine with certainty who is black and who is white. Some readers may think that Twyla is black and Roberta is white, while others may think the opposite. Some readers may change their minds several times throughout the story, while others may remain undecided. The point of the story is not to reveal who is black and who is white, but to challenge the reader to question their own perceptions and prejudices about race.


What happened to Maggie in Recitatif?




The fate of Maggie is also unclear in the story, leaving the reader to wonder what happened to her after Twyla and Roberta left St. Bonny's. The story gives different versions of what happened to Maggie when she was pushed and kicked by the older girls at the home. Twyla remembers that she and Roberta did not help her or kick her, while Roberta remembers that they did both. Roberta later admits that she lied about kicking Maggie, but she also says that she is not sure if Maggie was black or white. The story does not tell what happened to Maggie after that incident, or whether she survived or not. The reader can only hope that someone helped her or loved her at some point in her life.


What is the significance of Jimi Hendrix in Recitatif?




and experimental style of guitar playing and singing. He was also a symbol of counterculture and social change. He was black, but he had a large and diverse fan base that included white people. He was also influenced by different genres of music, such as blues, jazz, soul, and rock. He represents the theme of music and symbolism in Recitatif, as he is mentioned several times in the story. He is Roberta's favorite musician, and she goes to see him with two older boys in the second encounter. He is also the subject of a poster that Twyla sees in Roberta's room in the fourth encounter. He is also the inspiration for a song that Twyla sings to Roberta in the final encounter. He symbolizes their friendship and their differences, as well as their connection to a larger cultural and historical context.


What is the tone of Recitatif?




The tone of Recitatif is a mixture of humor and seriousness, of irony and sincerity, of simplicity and complexity. Morrison uses a conversational style as written by a human to narrate the story from Twyla's point of view. She uses informal language, personal pronouns, rhetorical questions, and analogies and metaphors to engage the reader and create a sense of intimacy and authenticity. She also uses humor and irony to lighten the mood and highlight the absurdity and contradiction of some situations and characters. However, she also uses seriousness and sincerity to convey the depth and importance of some issues and themes. She uses simple language to tell a complex story that deals with race, identity, memory, and music. She uses a balance of tone to create a realistic and compelling story that appeals to both the head and the heart of the reader. 71b2f0854b


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