“Recitatif” by Toni Morrison

Introduction

“Recitatif” by Toni Morrison is a powerful and thought-provoking short story exploring race, identity, and prejudice themes. The story follows the lives of two young girls, Twyla and Roberta, who meet at a shelter for orphaned and neglected children in the 1950s. The story is unique in that Morrison never explicitly states the race of the two girls, leaving it up to the reader to infer based on subtle clues throughout the text. The author uses the ambiguous race of the two main characters to challenge readers’ prejudices and explore themes of racial identity, memory, and friendship. The debate around the characters’ race adds complexity and depth to the story, making it a powerful commentary on race and identity.

Present Arguments

One of the most notable aspects of “Recitatif” is that the race of the two main characters is never explicitly stated. This has led to much debate and speculation among literary critics about the racial identities of Twyla and Roberta. Some critics argue that Twyla is white and Roberta is black, while others argue the opposite. Some even argue that both girls are of mixed race or that their races are deliberately left ambiguous to challenge readers’ assumptions and biases. On one side of the argument, some critics argue that Morrison intentionally left the race of the characters ambiguous to challenge readers’ assumptions and force them to confront their prejudices. These critics argue that Morrison is making a statement about the fluidity of racial identity and the arbitrary nature of racial categorization.

On the other side, some critics argue that the ambiguity of the character’s race is frustrating and distracting and ultimately detracts from the story’s impact. These critics argue that Morrison should have been more explicit about the race of the characters, as this would have helped readers to understand the story’s themes and message better. Morrison’s ambiguity challenges readers to question their assumptions and biases, and the fact that the story has been interpreted in multiple ways speaks to its complexity and nuance. However, it is also important to recognize that individual biases and perspectives can influence the debate around girls’ races. Some readers may bring their assumptions and experiences to the text, leading them to interpret it in a certain way. It is important to be aware of these biases and to engage in a critical analysis of the text that takes into account multiple perspectives.

Academic Resonance

Academically speaking, the debate around the girls’ races is important in how it speaks to the larger themes of the story “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison. As previously mentioned, the ambiguity of the characters’ race contributes to the story in several ways, including highlighting the theme of racial identity and exploring the nature of memory. The debate around the girls’ races is an important aspect of this ambiguity and adds complexity to the story. Scholars and critics have debated the races of Twyla and Roberta since the story’s publication in 1983. Some argue that Twyla is Black and Roberta is white, while others argue the opposite. This debate is important because it speaks to the story’s larger themes, particularly the idea that racial identity is not always clear-cut and that our assumptions and biases can influence how we perceive race.

The debate around the girls’ races also adds layers of complexity to the story. Morrison deliberately leaves the characters’ races ambiguous, forcing the reader to grapple with their assumptions and biases. The debate among scholars and critics further emphasizes that there is no easy answer regarding race and racial identity. Overall, the debate around the girls’ races is important academically because it speaks to the story’s larger themes and adds complexity and nuance to the reader’s understanding of race and racial identity. By engaging in the debate, scholars and readers can deepen their understanding of the story and the complex issues it raises.

My Argument

The first argument is more convincing. Morrison’s decision to leave the race of the characters ambiguous is a deliberate and effective choice that adds to the power and impact of the story. By challenging readers’ assumptions and forcing them to confront their prejudices, Morrison makes a powerful statement about racial identity’s arbitrary and constructed nature. While the debate around the girls’ races is important, what is ultimately more significant about “Recitatif” is how Morrison explores issues of identity and how our perceptions of ourselves and others are shaped by factors such as race and class. The story challenges readers to question their assumptions and biases and consider how our experiences and stories about ourselves shape our understanding of the world. Furthermore, the ambiguity of the characters’ races is not distracting but adds to the story’s complexity and depth. In the short story “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison, the ambiguity of the race of the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta, contributes to the story in several ways.

The characters’ race ambiguity highlights the theme of racial identity and how it is not always clear-cut. The story is set during the civil rights movement, and the racial tensions of the time are evident throughout the story. However, the fact that the reader is not told the race of the two main characters forces them to confront their assumptions and biases about race. By leaving the characters’ race ambiguous, Morrison invites readers to question their assumptions and preconceptions about race and racial identity.

Secondly, the ambiguity of the characters’ race allows Morrison to explore the theme of friendship across racial boundaries. Throughout the story, Twyla and Roberta’s friendship is tested by racial tensions. They come from different backgrounds and life experiences, but their friendship endures despite these differences. By leaving the characters’ race ambiguous, Morrison allows the reader to focus on the characters’ personalities and experiences rather than their racial identity. This underscores the idea that true friendship can transcend racial boundaries.

Through the ambiguity of the characters’ race, Morrison comments on the nature of memory and the unreliability of personal recollection. Throughout the story, Twyla and Roberta’s memories of their childhood experiences are at odds with each other. They remember events differently and have different interpretations of what happened. By leaving the characters’ race ambiguous, Morrison forces the reader to confront the idea that memory is subjective and can be influenced by personal biases and perspectives. The ambiguity of the characters’ race in “Recitatif” contributes to the story by highlighting the themes of racial identity, friendship across racial boundaries, and the unreliability of memory. By forcing the reader to confront their assumptions and biases about race, Morrison challenges us to think more deeply about the complex nature of race and racial identity in American society.

Conclusion

“Recitatif” by Toni Morrison is a powerful short story exploring race, identity, and prejudice themes. The ambiguity of the characters’ race has been a topic of debate and speculation among literary critics, but it adds to the story’s complexity and nuance. The debate speaks to the story’s larger themes, particularly the idea that racial identity is not always clear-cut and that our assumptions and biases can influence how we perceive race. The ambiguity of the characters’ race highlights the theme of racial identity, challenges readers’ assumptions and biases, and allows Morrison to explore the theme of friendship across racial boundaries. Overall, the ambiguity of the characters’ race contributes to the power and impact of the story and forces readers to confront their prejudices and preconceptions about race and identity.

Works Cited

Hamdan, M. “Mobility and Disability in Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”: An Anti-Racial Reading of “Dancing” and “Sick” Bodies.” Routledge, vol. 77, no. 3-4, 24 Sept. 2019, pp. 119-123.

Şemsettin, Tabur. “Initiation, Race Relations and Otherness in Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”.” Uluslararası Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi 5.2 (2022): 176-185.

Morrison, Toni. “Recitatif.” Ancestral House. Routledge, 2021. 422-436.

Smith, Z. “The Genius of Toni Morrison’s Only Short Story: In the extraordinary “Recitatif,” Morrison withholds crucial details of racial identity, making the reader the subject of her experiment.” The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2022.