Recitatif by Morrison and Sonny's Blues by Baldwin: identity's symbolic position in society

Résumé du document

Never has there been a subject that has aroused as much discussion as identity's position within society. Identity is a set of characteristics gathered to allow people to differentiate themselves from others. "Recitatif" wrote in 1983 by Toni Morrison and "Sonny's Blues" wrote by James Baldwin in 1957 deal with the difficulty of understanding between the human being. "Recitatif" is more focused on segregation atmosphere while "Sonny's Blues" translates the sibling relationship. Both narrators are adults and internal to the story. Moreover, the protagonists have a common past and are separated because of drugs problems or racial discrimination. Indeed, their social classes, cultures and personal opinions divided them. Throughout these two different stories, authors imply that identity can be affected by external factors. This paper will demonstrate first of all cultural identity's capacity to identify people to a specific community through the religion.

Extraits

[...] To cross over this tension, Sonny uses music like therapy and reveals his identity throughout his suffering. This part of essay will demonstrate that the need to have a positive identity of itself can sometimes lead to discrimination. “Recitatif” deals with racial discrimination through “a black girl and a white girl” but Toni Morrison has a technique of alluding to racism stereotypes without ever clearly mentioning them Yet, this ambiguous situation of racial segregation at the beginning of the story is clearly underlined on the last pages. [...]

[...] Recitatif by Morrison and Sonny's Blues by Baldwin: identity's symbolic position in society Never has there been a subject that has aroused as much discussion as identity's position within society. Identity is a set of characteristics gathered to allow people to differentiate themselves from others. “Recitatif” wrote in 1983 by Toni Morrison and “Sonny's Blues” wrote by James Baldwin in 1957 deal with the difficulty of understanding between the human being. “Recitatif” is more focused on segregation atmosphere while “Sonny's Blues” translates the sibling relationship. [...]

[...] This comparison shows the brothers' painful experience to find a positive identity within the society. With these last words, the text gives the hope that things can change and that all their mutual efforts could be rewarded by redemption. II. Social identity's influence on the relationship with others This essay will now argue that social identity influences people to become a member of a specific group depending on their social class or hobbies. Yet, people's surrounding do not always accept this choice. [...]

[...] Works Cited: Baldwin, James. “Sonny's Blues” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter ninth edition. Print. Brodsky Lacour, Claudia and Schappell, Elissa. “Toni Morrison, The Art of Fiction No. 134” The Paris Review. Web. Morrison, Toni. “Recitative” Doc. Web. [...]

[...] Moreover, when Sonny and his group play blues, this music “hit[s] something in [the narrator]” (109). Indeed, even though they have different lives, they always are brothers and it is a precious link. Family's identity and principles can be involuntarily transmitted to kids. Indeed, when Twyla meets Roberta, she seems to approve the racial stereotype reported by her mother; people like Roberta, “never washed their hair and they smelled funny” One may conclude that identity is not only represented by the simple fact of existing, but also through religion, discrimination, personal choices and family. [...]