Preview

Recitatif By Toni Clinton Character Analysis

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
624 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Recitatif By Toni Clinton Character Analysis
Recitatif by Toni Morrison is a story about two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who initially meet in home for children called St. Bonaventure, St. Bonny for short. At their initial meeting there are feelings of mistrust from both sides, but eventually come to bond with each other. We find out early that one is black and one is white but which is which is never revealed. Twyla was sent to St. Bonny because her mother “dances all night” and Roberta because her mother is sick. Since they were placed there and are not orphans like the majority of the home they are considered outcast. With this they become close and feel like allies against all the other orphans and the older girls they call “gar-girls” who are meant to them, and they share a fascination …show more content…

The mothers meeting did not go as planned and Twyla is humiliated by her mother’s reaction to being slighted by Roberta’s mother and her behavior in general.
The next time they meet after getting out of the home Twyla is working at a hotel and runs into Roberta. She is siting with two males and after an awkward introduction Twyla leaves feeling slighted by Roberta. The next time they meet it is a twenty years later and is the opposite of the first meeting. They meet at the supermarket and go out to coffee and talk like they have not been apart for all these years. It is then shown that Twyla is married with a son and lower class while Roberta is married to a widowed IBM exec with four children and is rich. The next meeting is when they meet at a protest about bussing school children and school integration. Twyla feels harassed by one of the picketers and Roberta does not come to her aid. She then pickets for the opposite side. It is then that Roberta reveals that Twyla once kicked Maggie when she was pushed down on the ground by the older girls and that Maggie was black so Twyla had no right or call her a bigot. Twyla remembers differently and says that Maggie was not black. At their last encounter,


You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Recitative is a style of vocal music intermediate between speaking and singing; reflecting on the natural rhythms of speech”. In the story Recitatif this meaning is important because it points out the natural rhythm of speech between Roberta and Twyla’s relationship. Roberta is black and Twyla is white. They both have an unspoken understanding of each other because they are in an orphanage yet neither one of them are orphans. Due to them being in this orphanage their racial identities do not exist. They are no longer black/white but children in an orphanage whose mothers cannot take care of them. Twyla and Roberta both come from complete different backgrounds. Even at their young age yet they both have completely different ways that they see the world and their surroundings. This is prevalent when Roberta and Twyla meet again a few times throughout the years. Recitatif is about how people view, deal and handle life differently due to their race and circumstance even though one race may be sympathetic to another race that does not mean that truly understand or see the big…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The longest serving first lady of the United states Eleanor Roosevelt had once said, “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” In Laura Hillenbrand’s nonfiction book Unbroken, the exceedingly clever Louis Zamperini embodied Roosevelt’s words when he survived World War II employing his own idea’s of his to stay alive and help his remaining crew return home.…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Throughout the novella I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Robert Neville, the last human who is immune to this disease, is an anti-hero. For instance, towards the end of the story, during his state of confusion after he woke up, he felt pain that he had not ever felt before and thought that it must mean it was the end and said to himself ‘’I am going to die’’ (p.164). This statement shows that he accepts that his life will end here and he will not try to fight it in any way in order to continue surviving. In addition to this, after he realizes where he is and what happened, Ruth came to check on him and asks him why he did not leave beforehand like she told him to in the letter she left him. Robert explained to her ‘’I…couldn’t […] I almost…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Once Mrs. Itkin leaves Roberta asks Twyla if her mother is also sick. Twyla says that her mother just likes to “dance all night” (Morrison 1). When both of their mothers come to visit, Twyla’s mother tries to shake Roberta’s mother’s hand. Roberta’s mother just looks down on both of them, grabs Roberta and walks away (Morrison 5). Roberta’s mother may have realized that Twyla’s mother is a dancer and thinks lowly of her. Roberta’s mother may have noticed Twyla’s mother’s apparel. Twyla’s mother is wearing her green slacks which are extremely inappropriate for church. Twyla’s mother also has a rambunctious attitude which also gives away that she is a stripper that Roberta’s mother notices. She knows that she is of a higher class than Twyla’s…

    • 157 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    oks like,” (Tyson 52). Tyson always saw his father as a role model in his life, and he is his main focus during the book. Yes, Tyson elaborates on racism and the role white supremacy played in the South, but is main focus of the book is his father and how such a small moment of your young life can change the course of the rest of your life so much. Tyson wants to inform future generations of what can happen if people let the pigmentation of their skin affect their relationships with other human beings. Despite the background of characters becoming confusing, along with relation to the main point becoming unclear, he has a solid argument, and elaborates and focuses on the topic well.…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    If one had to describe Andrew Nafarrete in one word, he or she would be at a loss because Andrew cannot simply be minimized into one singular concept. After sitting down to take on this interview, he proved that he is an individual bursting with character, passion, and wisdom. With his relentless jokes, he answered the questions light-heartedly but with complete and utter honesty; creating not only a productive atmosphere, but a pleasant and entertaining one as well. With visible joy, he shared his accomplishments, his plans for his future, and the sentiments that are all derived from Andrew Nafarrete.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the novel Wonder, by R.J Palacio, hearing and learning about other children’s perspectives will help us understand August’s transition into life at Beecher Prep. When Summer arrives at Savannah's Halloween party she gets asked “why I hang out with ‘the freak.’” (Palacio 122) This comment shows that the “popular” group’s outlook implies an insensitive and disrespectful outlook towards August. The pressure the “popular” kids exert on Summer drives her to feel quite wistful because August is her friend.…

    • 216 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While reading the novel, 'My Antonia', one can very quickly notice that author, Willa Cather has much admiration for the character, Antonia. Throughout 'My Antonia', readers can conclude that Antonia is a very optimistic and inteligent girl who grows into an independent young woman. Due to such characteristics, many people could very easily find themselves admiring Antonia.…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The theme of characters pursuing actions for selfish reasons is exhibited in Roberta’s relationship with her mother. For “[o]nce in the olden days of Roberta’s life there was a dog named Cookie”(9), and Roberta held this dog close to her heart, it was the one figure in her life that she could rely on and have faith in. However Roberta’s mother was “…always screaming at Cookie for everything…screaming…

    • 2096 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    altitudes such as Everest. He was very honest and admitted when he made a mistake. Krakauer struggled climbing and faced many challenges once the storm arrived. I honestly do not think he was trained enough to be climbing Mt. Everest. As an author, he was very detailed and made sure he knew all the facts about the people in the novel. He was also very sympathetic and told about all the guilt he had from the expedition. Krakauer writes, “My actions or failure to act played a direct role in the death of Andy Harris.” (Krakauer 284). He is a very professional writer and really makes you feel a part of the story. His wording was impeccable and I feel like he did not leave out any details. I loved how he was a very honest person while writing which made me have a lot of respect towards him. I relate to his honesty and bluntness. I personally am a blunt person when it comes to telling the truth. I tell it how it is even if it is not the right way to say it. For Krakauer to be able to write this novel after all the stuff he experienced in this disaster is unbelievable. He witnessed some very tragic things and for him to sit down and write it all out shows how determined he was to get the truth out. I honestly believe that he told his part of the story to the best of his ability. I do not think that he could have made it up. He also knew that the other survivors would read this book and would know if he did not tell the story correctly. Since he seemed very loyal I do not think he would have tried to make himself seem different than his real self. If he had in anyway tried to claim that he had no regrets about the expedition and what happened then I would be hesitant of the type of…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Twya Character Analysis

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As time passed, the two girls parted ways when Roberta left St.Bonnys. Twyla says, Roberta promised to write everyday, which was really sweet of her because she couldnt read a lick so how could she write anybody (205), giving me another indication that Roberta was reliable. Twyla and Roberta run into each other once more, and Twyla reminisce on how her and Roberta were. She says, Automatically I reached for Roberta, ...…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After reading the story, “I Can Speak” by George Saunders, many readers would happen to realize that this story is not like every other story that is just picked up and read. In order for someone to fully apprehend the story, reader must stay consistently focused on the text. The story is about a reply letter from the company for a compliant letter that was sent by a customer named Mrs. Faniglia to a company named KidLuv Inc. regarding a product manufactured by the company known as I Can Speak!™. I Can Speak!™ is a robotic mask that the parent glides over their baby’s head and functions by responding to something in more advanced manner than corresponding to the baby’s age.…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    As for Roberta, aside from her mother refusing to shake Mary’s (Twyla’s mother) hand, not much is indicated about her knowledge about or feelings toward Twyla’s race until midway into the story. During the first reunion since St. Bonny’s, Roberta and her friends express obvious prejudice towards Twyla. The conversation begins to digress when Twyla is ridiculed in a very ugly manner for not knowing who Jimi Hendrix was. Roberta says “Jimi Hendrix, asshole. He’s only the biggest-Oh, wow. Forget it” (206) and dismissed Twyla…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Outline Recitatif

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Thesis: Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” deals with issues such as inequality and contradictions between different social classes, race and shame.…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Shades of Character” by Michelle Watson is an essay showing the types of characteristics children have and how each child is different. Studies have showed that children all unique, still each child can be place in one of the three main groups. Watson uses professionals in the field of child psychology to inform the audience of the three-common trait a child has, and how each trait should be handed.…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays