Recitatif by Toni Morrison Analysis Essay

America, the great melting pot, has been torn apart countless times always to return to unity. Some unspoken bond holds the nation together, a similar bond endures between the main characters in Toni Morrison's short story “Recitatif ''. By challenging the reality of racial norms in an American narrative told through the lens of literary postmodernism, Morrison's “Recitatif'' can represent America itself. The American literary canon has expanded immensely since its origin, not only to include new works but also to expand the perspectives buried by exclusionists who defined the canon in the past. “Recitatif” by Morrison is a profoundly American story; “Recitatif” narrates the lives of two girls who were sent to an orphanage as they unite against the world until they go live in reality. The story traces their deep connection that is easily rekindled over long periods-- a lesson easily applied to the American values that perceived differences can mask, but not overcome a common identity. “Recitatif” is an essential work for American literature and should continue to be included in American literary canon, not only because its themes of unity represent American values, but also because the postmodernist lessons taught by “Recitiaf” have been wrongfully excluded from the canon for some time.

Recitiaf’s central theme of deep connection between Twyla and Roberta caused by alienation can represent a connection that is a recurring theme in the American literary canon and American culture itself. America, “one nation...indivisible” may seem quite divided at times; in fact, differences cause the alienation that breeds such strong connections in America and American literature. The American literary canon should represent this need for community, the undying invisible string that ties America together despite being buried under mountains of menial debates. Twyla states plainly, “We were dumped” (Morrison 1429). We-- referring to Roberta and Twyla--stood out in the orphanage, and thus formed a connection; they were each other's family, lifeline, world, and yet once they drifted into reality they too drifted apart from each other. Their drift did not diminish the connection they formed from their alienation, just as America must find community in the face of the world. An article writes, "Recitatif'' emphasizes one of Morrison's primary themes, the assertion that shared emotional experiences, although often profoundly distorted by perceptions of difference, are the most accurate and solid foundation available for authentic human connection” (Gillespie). The sharing of experiences leading to a shared bond is a lesson that is necessary for American literature as our nation falls apart and comes back together time after time. American literature often contains themes of unity or alienation; both are categorizations to which “Recitatif” belongs. 

The lack of blatant racial labels found in “Recitatif” is also an eye-opening experience for the reader that deserves to be preserved in America's literary canon. America was not always the aforementioned melting pot; America has a dark history of racism and the alienation of specific groups that is still present today. In “Recitatif”, Morrison never explicitly states the races of the girls, leaving clues in stereotypes and carefully phrased displays that resemble the euphemisms used derogatorily to identify people's races to force readers to question why they identified the girls' races. The first mention of classifying race is found late in the story as Roberta remarks, “Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black-white” (Morrison 1437). Even this remark does not classify the girls individually, it only informs the reader that the girls are different, still challenging readers into self-introspection about their internalized prejudices. This questions whether race is the problem, or whether it is simply the label attached. This challenge forces readers to look into their prejudices and as Higgs-Coulthard writes, “Readers must enter the text as active participants, and, in essence, the prejudices of those readers become another character in the story.” Racial prejudices are so prevalent in America, it is a necessary and shocking experience for readers to consider themselves as a component of how literature is read. By forcing readers to examine themselves, Morrison creates a timeless silent interrogation that deserves a spot in the trophy case of the American literary canon. 

Recitatif not only fits into the American themes of race within the American canon, but it also displays key characteristics of postmodernism in its betrayal of the reader's reality. The postmodern literary movement deserves a spot in the American literary canon, and the postmodern approach to race essentially kills two birds with one stone by displaying a movement-specific aspect of a continuous theme. Compared to norm-centered modernism, “Postmodernism, by contrast, eschews the possibility of norms; even objective reality is called into question” (Werlock). In America, the norm was--and albeit less so, still is--identifying people as their race first, but Morrison questions whether race is even a part of identity. The racial ambiguity surrounding the titles forces the reader to question their norms, implanting them into postmodernism. "I wonder what made me think you were different" (Morrison 1438) Twyla's remark challenges readers to wonder what made them characterize Twyla and Roberta as different solely based on race, despite their immense similarities in their experiences with exclusion, challenging the norm of racial identification and prejudice. Every literary movement deserves representation in the American literary canon, and “Recitatif” is a paragon of postmodern work in its bent perspective on exclusion. 

“Recitatif” also represents a key perspective in America that has been historically excluded, a perspective that may not paint America in the best light, a true, oft-hidden, perspective. The American literary canon, from its definition, was based on the ideas of educated, privileged, white men. Educated, privileged, white men, have never made up the entirety of America, and thus should not be able to define its literary canon, selectively ignoring works that make them look bad. Women through history, especially black women, have had wall after wall put up between them and creating literature, however they too are America. Toni Morrison represents a perspective that is often lacking in the American literary canon. The racial themes and lessons taught by interactive experiences with readers are essential to make up for the past lack of these perspectives. The American Literary canon must include all parts of America, and Toni Morrison's “Recitatif” fills the hole left by exclusivity. 

"Recitatif" by Toni Morrison belongs preserved forever in America’s literary canon as a paragon of postmodernism in its portrayal of racial themes that are prevalent in America and American literature, as well as teaching unity and diversifying the perspectives in the canon. Morrison's perspectives, conveyed through an introspective reading experience, truly represent America, torn apart yet it still must be bound by some unspoken commonalities; Americans may define themselves individually, but as Morrison proves, labels are superfluous. Morrison can display the fundamental ideas of her era in only a few pages of text; her masterful challenges for readers truly elevate “Revitaif'' to a level reserved for the American literary canon, where this work belongs.