Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson Book Analysis

The past leaves traces on everyone. Whether physical or emotional, traces of the past will always remain in one form or another. Aubrey Daniels, for example, has callouses on his hands due to his poverty-stricken childhood, but Sabe and Po’Boy, have smooth hands due to their wealthy youth and current lifestyle. Because of their status, Melody can grow up in richer situation than Aubrey, meaning she will not have to endure the hardships of an impoverished childhood. Jaqueline Woodson uses many motifs in her novel Red at the Bone. Specifically she uses hands, nails, and fingers to demonstrate the socioeconomic differences between Melody and Aubrey’s upbringing

Melody’s well kept nails represent her wealthy childhood. While Iris lives at college, her family occasionally sends Iris pictures of Melody as she grows up. Iris describes one of the pictures and notices that “The hand holding the ballon showed perfectly manicured nails. Someone has polished them a pale pink”(56). The “perfectly manicured nails” holding on to the balloon belong to Melody. Someone had “polished them a pale pink” to give Melody a clean and neat look of someone from a high social status. Given that someone had polished her nails “perfectly”, stresses her comfortable living situation. While living with her grandparents, Melody lives a pleasant and well-off life. Her put together and beautiful physical appearance characterize her wealthy childhood. Along with her manicured nails, the ballon Melody holds also shows how she has the simple joys of a child. Her grandparents have the means and the love to ensure Melody enjoys the little things in her life. Melody’s obvious happiness and beautifully done nails, indicate that Melody does not have to worry about where her next meal comes from or other monetary issues. Earlier, during Melody’s extravagant coming of age ceremony, Aubrey notices Melody’s “long painted nails lacing into lotioned teen-boy hands”(29). The “long painted nails” show Melody’s upbringing in a wealthy household. Wealthy enough to pay for her manicures so she looks composed for her party. Aubrey is the one who acknowledges her nails because they remind him of the scarce times his mother had polished considering their luxuriousness. He even remembers the specific colors his mother used to wear. Many people do not have the luxury of manicures, so Melody having her nails done emphasizes her high wealth. Her manicured nails also insinuate her wealth and high socioeconomic status. Melody also “laces” her long nails into “lotioned teen-boy hands” in a dainty and mature manner. Instead of grabbing or pulling, she delicately “laces” her nails into the boy’s hand. Her action depicts her high social status, since as a young girl, her grandparents likely taught her the etiquette on how to behave in formal situations. The luxury of manicured and pretty nails represent Melody’s wealthy upbringing. 

Differentiating to Melody’s well kept hands, Aubrey’s show signs of an impoverished past and present. When Aubrey describes his childhood, he says that “Before he was a man… He was a hungry boy, dipping his fingers into cans of Vienna sausage”(34). Because Aubrey grew up poor, no one ever taught him proper etiquette. So, he dips his “fingers into cans of Vienna sausage” instead of using utensils or a plate. Because Aubrey did not attend high social class events, he never needed to learn etiquette. Aubrey has dirty and messy fingers throughout his childhood, while Melody has perfectly manicured fingers with clean, polished nails. Aubrey also mentions how  “Before he was a man… he was a hungry boy”, meaning that before he had a daughter and had to learn about the responsibilities of becoming a father, he did whatever her pleased. When Aubrey and Melody walk around a poor neighborhood, Aubrey thinks back to his own poor past. Then, he thinks about his life now and says, “All of it had left him with a trace of asthma and calloused hands… They were not poor. Well, Melody wasn’t”(157-158). By “all of it” Aubrey means the years of tedious work in the mailroom, “crushing boxes” and “pulling staples”, leaving him with traces of physical labor in the form of callouses on his hands. Aubrey did not grow up with the same opportunities as Iris and did not have the ability to leave and go to college just out of boredom. Aubrey has to stick with whatever he has. People of higher social classes do not necessarily have traces of physical labor in the form of callouses, like Aubrey. Aubrey also says how “They were not poor. Well, Melody wasn’t”, acknowledging how he still lives in poverty, but to a lesser degree, while Melody lives a rich and wealthy life. Although eventually Aubrey’s hands will heal, memories of poverty and manual work will always stay with him. Hands, nails, and fingers emphasize the difference between Aubrey and Melody’s wealth.

Aubrey and Melody’s hands, fingers, and nails differ due to their different socioeconomic upbringings and privileges. But as Aubrey grows into a man, he remembers his mother’s hands and how she also has traces of a poverty-stricken life. Similar to his mom,  callouses on Aubrey’s hands represent his physically represent the traces of his poverty. Aubrey mentions how “he never wanted Melody to have hands like his mother’s”(157). Both Aubrey and his mom grew up in poverty, but now Aubrey has the chance to change where Melody grows up, thanks to Iris and her high social status. While holding Melody’s hand, Aubrey remembers his mother's impoverished and difficult life. He never wants Melody to endure his own or his mother’s difficulties and does not want Melody growing up the same way he did. Aubrey makes an effort to ensure that the past only leaves pleasant traces on Melody; opposite to his own experience.