Prose MCQ Review: 'Recitatif' by Toni Morrison

The excerpt is from Toni Morrison's “Recitatif,” focusing on the childhood experiences of two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who reside in a shelter called St. Bonny's.

Twyla:
- Narrator of the story.
- Displays a strong connection to her mother, Mary, who dances all night.
- Describes her feelings upon arriving at the shelter and her initial discomfort.
- Frequently recalls the relationship with Roberta and their dynamic.
Roberta:
- Twyla's roommate at St. Bonny's.
- Represents a different racial background, though Morrison intentionally avoids clearly defining her race.
- Is perceived by Twyla as having a distinct smell, possibly alluding to cultural stereotypes.
- Engages in play with jacks, demonstrating her childhood innocence despite her struggles.
Big Bozo (Mrs. Itkin):
- A representative figure of institutional authority within the shelter.
- Portrayed through an unkind lens by the children, highlighting her emotional detachment.

St. Bonny's Shelter:
- Described as a non-traditional shelter environment where children are placed.
- Unlike typical shelters, it has fewer children due to a shortage of state kids.
- Allows Twyla and Roberta to choose beds and switch between them freely, emphasizing instability but also freedom.

Racial Ambiguity:
- Morrison intentionally avoids defining the races of the characters, compelling readers to confront their own racial biases and assumptions.
- The lack of clear racial identity invites interpretations based on behavior and language rather than skin color.
Childhood Perspective and Bias:
- The narrative is delivered through Twyla's first-person limited perspective, presenting a lens shaped by childish innocence and bias.

Switching Beds:
- Represents instability, lack of identity, and a feeling of not belonging.
- Highlights the temporary nature of their living situation and experiences.
Salt and Pepper:
- Symbolizes racial differences that are highlighted by others rather than perceived by the girls themselves.
The Wizard of Oz:
- Embodies themes of innocence, childhood fantasy, and a form of emotional escape from harsh realities.

The overall tone is reflective, subtle, and observational—allowing readers to notice the nuance in the girls' experiences and the larger themes at play.

Challenge of Racial Assumptions:
- Morrison's approach to racial identifiers forces readers to engage with their assumptions.
- By withholding explicit identifiers, Morrison illuminates the deep-seated nature of racial biases in society.
Symbol of the Shelter:
- Represents both social marginalization and shared vulnerability.
- Since the shelter is not depicted solely as a negative place, it challenges societal perceptions of shelters as purely places of pity.
- Highlights that elements like abandonment and poverty can transcend racial differences among children.

Represents institutional authority and emotional detachment, highlighting how such systems lack empathy for vulnerable children.
The nickname “Big Bozo” denotes the children’s perspective on the impersonal nature of their environment, reinforcing feelings of dehumanization.

Switching Beds:
- Instability, identity crisis, absence of belonging.
Salt and Pepper:
- Racial differences highlighted externally, challenges notions of identity based on racial assumptions.
The Wizard of Oz:
- Represents childhood innocence, fantasy, and an emotional reprieve from the harsher aspects of reality.