English > ESSAY > Reaction Paper for: Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” LATEST FOR 2021/2022 (All)

Reaction Paper for: Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” LATEST FOR 2021/2022

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Reaction Paper for: Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” “Recitatif” is the French word for “recitative”, which according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is defined as, “a rhythmically fre e ... vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech and that’s used for dialogue and narrative in operas and oratorios.” I strongly feel that this definition does indeed reflect Morrison’s style and tone in which she chose to write “Recitatif”— in five different episodes, in which we are able to observe and follow the progressive transformation of the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta, all in which is narrated by Twyla. Therefore, I believe this story; in every sense can be seen as Twyla’s “recititaf.” We are first introduced to Twyla and Roberta when they are eight years old, at St. Bonny’s, a state home for children. Twyla and Roberta are there because each has been taken away from their mothers. Roberta's mother is sick and Twyla's mother, "just likes to dance all night." Despite an initial hostility, they are drawn to each other and they soon become friends (in spite of the fact that one of them is black and the other white) because of their similar circumstances. The second encounter takes place eight years later; the two women meet at the Howard Johnson’s diner where Twyla works. Twyla tries to be nice, but Roberta dismisses her coldly. The third encounter takes place twenty years after the first encounter at St. Bonny’s; they are both married and grocery shopping at a gourmet store [Show More]

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