Preview

Jazz (Toni Morrison) Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1322 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Jazz (Toni Morrison) Essay
Reconnection
While the struggle to individually survive is inherent in Toni Morrison’s Jazz, what stands out more is the way companionship helps the characters to survive. The relationships that develop within the story are potent in their effects on characters, especially Joe Trace, a fifty-three year old man struggling with a failing marriage. Trying to fulfill his own desires, he has an affair. But because he kills Dorcas, his young lover who does not truly love him, Joe finds himself isolated from his wife and the rest of society. By reestablishing his relationships and connections to people who want to truly care for him, Joe is able to make himself whole again.
In his previous relationships that are problematic, such as his relationships with Dorcas, Joe lacks true communication and feeling. Even with Violet, his wife for over 20 years, Joe is unable to share experiences or have even a normal conversation. Joe does not know about Violet’s problems, for he never talks to her: Joe never learns “of Violet’s public craziness” after they move to the city—Violet is afraid to even reveal her own problems to herself, let alone Joe (22, 97). Revealing of the poor state to which the bonds between them have deteriorated, the narrator describes: “20 years after Joe and Violet train-danced on into the City, they were still a couple but barely speaking to each other” (36). In what is supposed to be the strongest relationship in his life at this point, Joe cannot sustain a meaningful link between him and his wife. Preventing these connections that had been present in the beginning of their relationship, in Virginia, when Violet “worked at anything to be with Joe whenever she could” are the changes that have occurred between them—changes that are brought by age and lack of communication (105). Violet no longer seems to care for Joe as she did before, for Joe describes to Malvonne, the woman with whom Joe is pleading to borrow her apartment for his affair, “Violet

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    During Janie’s marriage with Joe Starks Janie’s voice is slowly silenced through Joe’s acts of physical and verbal abuse. For example, when Janie decides to voice her opinion about women Joe swiftly orders her to be quiet and retrieve a checker board. As Janie loses her voice she becomes more subimissive towards Joe’s commands. Joe’s use of his own voice overpowers Janie’s, so Joe gains control in the relationship. But as Janie becomes frustrated with Joe and his abuse she finally decides to speak up to silence Joe by questioning his manhood and leaving him no room to retreat. This outburst liberates Janie from his control, and she gains a new freedom.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How does McEwan depict the breakdown in Joe and Clarissa’s relationship in the middle section of the novel?…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chloe Anthony Wofford, better known Toni Morrison, was born on February 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio. She is a Noble Prize- and Pulitzer Prize- winning American novelist. Her well known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Beloved. She is the second oldest of four children. Her father, George Wofford, worked as a welder but he also had other jobs to support his family. Her mother, Ramah, was a domestic worker. She wasn’t aware of racial divisions until her teenage years. In the future she majored in English at Howard University in 1953. Later on completed her masters in 1955 at Cornell University. She then went to work at Howard University to teach English. She found her true love, Harold Morrison, and got married in 1958 then had her…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Edward Kennedy Ellington was born April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Ellington's parents James and Daisy actively supported his educational development. Duke had his first piano lesson at the age of seven or eight; this did not fancy him too much. At this time he was interested in baseball, which brought his first job as a peanut salesman at the Washington Senator's games. This helped Duke overcome stage fright, which was of use for the future to come. With his piano lessons fading in the past, he showed interest in the art. As a result he attended Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art instead of attending and academics-oriented school. As time went by Duke began to listen and seek out pianists in Washington,…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, embodies the painful memories and trauma that former slaves had to go through during the Reconstruction Era. Morrison tells a story of a former slave woman named Sethe that runs away from her plantation called Sweet Home, with her newborn daughter, Denver, while her other children are back with her mother-in law. Her owners are coming to look for her to take her back to the plantation. When they arrive she runs , and she kills her daughter and tries to kill the other three so they would not have to go through the pain of being a slave as she was. Sethe is shunned from her community for her heinous act and lives in a house that is haunted by her dead baby's vengeful ghost.…

    • 1966 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    She meets Joe Starks, an opportunistic individual with big dreams of becoming mayor of a small, unknown town by rebuilding it into a flourishing one. Janie decides that with Joe Starks, she can start anew and search for happiness. Janie had no influence over her life with Logan, so she flings off her apron binding her to Logan and with this new freedom, runs off with Joe. Joe does not “represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizons” which intrigued Janie all the same (29). Little does she realize, being with Joe does not yield happiness. In fact, Joe is both possessive and controlling over Janie’s every action as they are actions that “should” or “should not” be done by the mayor’s wife. Joe expects Janie, as the mayor’s wife, to be set apart from the others. Sitting on a chair of power and authority that Joe placed her on, Janie inspires both “awe and envy” from the townspeople, but she could never “get but so close to most of them in spirit” making her feel “far away from things and lonely” (46). Janie seems like she now has power and influence, but she does not have any over her personal life. Joe controls her, and as a result none of the townspeople truly know what Janie is like and think that she “always did class off” (112). However, it is Joe who classes her off . He restricts Janie and takes charge of her actions, especially…

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Toni Morrison (Chloe Anthony Wofford) is an American novelist, editor, play writer, and professor. Her nickname, Toni, came from her baptismal name, Anthony. She became Catholic and received this name at the age of 12. She is the first African American who won the Nobel Prize in literature. Morrison also won many other honorable awards. Her novels are famous for epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters.…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Toni Morrison was growing up she has also experienced prejudices similar to Twyla. Toni Morrison’s family moved to Ohio to get away from the dangers and economic struggles of the south (Kubitschek 5). As Toni Morrison grew up, she wondered what it meant to be black. She has said that when someone was born black they had to “decide to be black” (3). What Morrison said goes beyond skin color and refers to what the world views (3). This gives insight on why Morrison decided to write this short story. Both women Twyla and Roberta have preconceived views of each other based on world views. Once they build an emotional relationship with each other, they forget what the world has always told them about each other.…

    • 372 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Beloved by Toni Morrison delivers intense and intriguing themes which create a powerful and rich story line. These themes are intertwined into the story lines within the story line, and the themes are carried within the strength and mystery embodied within each character. Slavery, murder, womanhood, manhood, human nature, death, and love are just a few of the themes that surround this novel to create nothing less than a masterpiece. The plot of Beloved does not carry itself throughout the novel but relies heavily on the intricacy of each character and their relationships with each other. One main character central to the story line yet restricted from falling into the depth of its central influences is Denver. Throughout the novel, Denver struggles to combat extreme feelings of loneliness, isolation, and abandonment by trying to find her own place in the history of her family. In this essay, I will discuss Denver 's relationship to other central characters and the story line by explaining the method which Morrison uses Denver 's character to reach the naivete of the reader.…

    • 1454 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Reading the book “Jazz Anecdotes,” by Bill Crow; it really gives the picture of what some of the first jazz musicians went through. This book introduces the jazz world as it really is. Throughout the book the stories reveal struggles, learning and teaching from one musician to another, discrimination, life on the road, and success. The different kind of characters and personalities is what makes this book interesting and come alive.…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harlem Renaissance Essay

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic movement of literature, art, dance, and music for black culture. Black artists used their talents to work towards civil rights and equality. This era helped to redefine how the world viewed African American culture. It developed a new black identity that challenged racism and politics through intellect and art. Though this artistic move- ment was charged by racial pride and a positive awareness, there were still laws being passed that prevented blacks from obtaining their political and civil rights. Some clubs still discriminat- ed against their black audience members, and the top black performers had to enter through the back door.…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Joe has a fulltime job and is able to bring home small gifts for Missie. He hears about the rich man Slemmons though, and he aspires to be him. At first, Missie does not think that money will make them any happier, but later in the story she has an affair with Slemmons, supposedly for the money. However, this money only causes discord in the couple’s relationship. It takes love and a baby to bring them back together.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Andy Warhol - Essay

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I’ve chosen to write my paper on the 20th century artist Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was born as Andrew Warhola on August 6th, 1928 in Pittsburg, PA. He is known as a lead figure in pop art for his visually striking prints and paintings. He was also known on the side for filmmaking, author, and for the people he associated with including celebrities, intellectuals and wealthy people. Andy Warhol is well known in the artist community, one of his paintings being sold for up to $100 million.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Moment Essay

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “So subdued I was by those tears, and by their breaking out again in the course of the quiet walk, that when I was on the coach, and it was clear of the town, I deliberated with an aching heart whether I would not get down when we changed horses and walk back, and having another evening at home, and a better parting. We changed, and I had not made up my mind and still reflected for my comfort that it would be quite practicable to get down and walk back, when we changed again. And while I was occupied with these deliberations, I would fancy an exact resemblance to Joe in some man coming along the road towards us, and my heart would beat high. – As if he could possibly be there!…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It wasn’t a typical Friday until I got my morning headache courtesy of the freshman drumline banging out a rough cadence three months and counting after marching season and I stepped in a puddle of spit. And my new black converses just made contact with the remnants of the trombones’ spit valves. The brown tiled floor of the band room was disgusting, especially near the low brass section where the instrumentalists felt the need to pour their spit out everywhere. I lucked out with having my instrument stored in the cages behind the low brass section’s saliva ocean.…

    • 2192 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays