Jazz by Toni Morrison, written
Jazz by Toni Morrison, writtenViolet thought it would disappoint them; that it would be less lovely than Baltimore. Joe believed it would be perfect. When they arrived, carrying all of their belongings in one valise, they both knew right away that perfect was not the word. It was better than that.
Joe didn't want babies either so all those miscarriages - two in the field, only one in her bed - were more inconvenience than loss. And citylife would be so much better without them. Arriving at the train station back in 1906, the smiles they both smiled at the women with little children, strung like beads over suitcases, were touched with pity. They liked children. Loved them even. Especially Joe, who had a way with them. But neither wanted the trouble. Years later, however, when Violet was forty, she was already staring at infants, hesitating in front of toys displayed at Christmas. Quick to anger when a sharp word was flung at a child, or a woman's hold of a baby seemed awkward or careless. The worst burn she ever made was on the temple of a customer holding a child across her knees. Violet, lost in the woman's hand-patting and her knee-rocking the little boy, forgot her own hand holding the curling iron. The customer flinched and the skin discolored right away. Violet moaned her apologies and the woman was satisfied until she discovered that the whole curl was singed clean off. Skin healed, but an empty spot in her hairline� Violet had to forgo payment to shut her up.
These two hundred fifty words or so are a small percentage of the book as a whole, but contain many of the themes and stylistic devices Morrison uses throughout her novel. We learn much of our two main characters - Joe and Violet - and as well the reader gains valuable information, allowing us to begin the process of piecing the novel together; a process made difficult by Morrison's constant time shifts and questionable narrator. In terms of the content, the idea of bearing children is prominent. Through this we learn about Joe and Violet's position on having children of their own, a theme introduced time and again. As well, Morrison's style in this passage is one of great contrast. It is not the first time we see this stylistic device, but it is one of the more obvious and important examples.
The issue of child...
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