Narrative Structures in Zadie Smith's White Teeth and Toni Morrison's Beloved
The novels 'White Teeth' by Zadie Smith and 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison
both explore many different issues. However, a principle theme that
appears to be common in both is the way in which the past influences
the present profoundly and both authors use the narrative structures
of the books to present this idea to the reader. The exploration of
the relationships between characters through time, the past haunting
the present and the way in which history and culture is revealed
through the past are important devices used to show the emotions and
further the plot. Each author does this in a very different way though
and this is the power of the narrative structure and the way in which
it can be used in a variety of different manners in order to achieve a
similar effect.
The narrative structure of 'White Teeth' is very logical. The novel is
divided decisively into sections in order to present the reader with
the emotions and views of the main characters. The four sections
'Archie 1974, 1945', 'Samad 1984, 1857', 'Irie 1990, 1907' and 'Magid,
Millat and Marcus 1992, 1999' provide the reader with a clear cut
structure to the novel, with the past and present accurately
intertwined. The separate 'books' in the novel help the reader to
understand how each character feels about the others, and therefore
explores their relationships between time. The main example of this is
the fact the Archie and Samad have been best friends since the Second
World War. However, their friendship is based on a lie that Archie
killed a Nazi scientist who was helping to develop the Master Race.
The separate books help the reader to understand this and the...
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... way in which mistakes and horrific events
can consume the mind. Two novels, which primarily appear to be about
the struggle of races and racism in society are in fact also about the
importance of time. Smith writes at the beginning of the novel:
'What's past is prologue' from 'The Tempest' perhaps suggesting that
the novel is in fact based upon the idea that the past and the present
are essentially intertwined and play an important role in modern day
life.
The way in which the past can haunt the present, have a negative and
positive influence on the way in which characters react and the plot
develops in both 'White Teeth' and 'Beloved'. It is an essential
element of both novels which helps to create a layered structure and
give depth to the plot so that the events of the present have a past:
a basis which creates a more profound effect of the reader.
Time: How does the way the writer moves between the past and present and future affect the structure of the book? How might this technique inform my approach?
past. The three main characters of the novel, all of whom to some extent try to
In order to understand what changes happen to twist the views of the 2 main characters in both novels, it is important to see the outlook of the two at the beginning of the novels in comparison ...
...time, reality becomes unclear, and when unclear, one might look upon the past for answers.
within the fact that this book has no immediate plot. It is more of a
Morrison's masterpiece Beloved, is dedicated and refers to the number of blacks who were killed as captives in Africa or on slave ships and, therefore, never made it into slavery. Through non-western eyes, Morrison allows the reader to re-vision and understand African-American history by re-telling history through the lives of former African slaves, because the “violence within the African American community can only be understood in a context in which ... the white power continue[s] to violate African American lives.”( Kader Aki, 1) The novel re-images of the events in American history and is concerned with historical transmission that continues into the present.
If ignorance is bliss, then why is it human nature to uncover the truth? In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the character Denver uses knowledge to feed her craving in hopes that it will fill the void her mother unsuccessfully tried to satisfy with the blood of the past and too little milk. To understand these truths one must accept that Beloved is a physical representation of the past, Sethe embodies the present, and Denver exemplifies the future. Throughout the novel these three characters interact on a superficial level, but each action has a deeper underlying influence on the other. This is why Denver’s assumed motive of using the attachment she forged with Beloved to develop a closer relationship with Sethe is cursory. When in fact it was for fear of her own life, that Denver’s intended to extract the information from Beloved, of what triggered Sethe to kill killed her.
There are many aspects of story that come together to create a complete narrative. A lot of the tools used by writers are intentional and serve the purpose of driving home certain aspects of the story or creating and engaging, and entertaining narrative. Toni Morrison—the author of Sula—is no different. Morrison employs many writing techniques and tools in her narrative Sula. It is important for the reader to be aware of and understand some of these narrative tools that the author uses because it allows the reader to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the narrative. In Sula a few narrative techniques that allow for the argument of women experiences to shine through are the use of a third person narrator, and gaps; throughout the story these tools allow the reader to become interested in and focus in on women experiences.
Self awareness of a person’s identity can lead to a challenging scope of ascertaining moving forward: the moment he/she has an earth- shattering revelation comprehending, they of African descendant and they are a problem. The awakening of double-consciousness grew within the literary cannon sensing the pressure of duality in the works of Native Son and The Bluest Eye, Richard Wright and Toni Morrison respectively create two characters who deal with this struggle. It is illustrated through both text how society creates situations that impose the characters Bigger and Pecola encountering extreme measures in the mind frame of double consciousness in their pursuit of survival physically, the search for identity, the desire of self- expression and self-fulfillment.
In Beloved, Toni Morrison portrays the barbarity and cruelty of slavery. She emphasizes the African American’s desire for a new life as they try to escape their past while claiming their freedom and creating a sense of community. In Beloved, "Much of the characters’ pain occurs as they reconstruct themselves, their families, and their communities after the devastation of slavery" (Kubitschek 115). Throughout the novel, Morrison uses color to symbolically represent a life complete with happiness, freedom, and safety, as well as involvement in community and family. In many scenes, Morrison uses color to convey a character's desire for such a life; while, in other instances, Morrison utilizes color to illustrate the satisfaction and fulfillment, which the characters experience once they achieve this life.
Toni Morrison's Beloved Throughout the novel Beloved, there are numerous and many obvious reoccurring themes and symbols. While the story is based off of slavery and the aftermath of the horrible treatment of the slaves, it also breaches the subject of the supernatural. It almost seems like the novel itself is haunted. It is even named after the ghost. To further the notion of hauntings, the characters are not only haunted by Beloved at 124, but they are haunted by their past, and the novel is not only about ridding their home of the ghost, but releasing their hold on what had happened to them in worse times.
In the 500 word passage reprinted below, from the fictional novel Beloved, Toni Morrison explains the pent-up anger and aggression of a man who is forced to keep a steady stance when in the presence of his white masters. She uses simple language to convey her message, yet it is forcefully projected. The tone is plaintively matter-of-fact; there is no dodging the issue or obscure allusions. Because of this, her work has an intensity unparalleled by more complex writing.
Toni Morrison's fifth novel, Beloved, a vividly unconventional family saga, is set in Ohio in the mid 1880s. By that time slavery had been shattered by the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation and the succeeding constitutional amendments, though daily reality for the freed slaves continued to be a matter of perpetual struggle, not only with segregation and its attendant insults, but the curse of memory.
To survive, one must depend on the acceptance and integration of what is past and what is present. In her novel Beloved, Toni Morrison carefully constructs events that parallel the way the human mind functions; this serves as a means by which the reader can understand the activity of memory. "Rememory" enables Sethe, the novel's protagonist, to reconstruct her past realities. The vividness that Sethe brings to every moment through recurring images characterizes her understanding of herself. Through rememory, Morrison is able to carry Sethe on a journey from being a woman who identifies herself only with motherhood, to a woman who begins to identify herself as a human being. Morrison glorifies the potential of language, and her faith in the power and construction of words instills trust in her readers that Sethe has claimed ownership of her freed self. The structure of Morrison's novel, which is arranged in trimesters, carries the reader on a mother's journey beginning with the recognition of a haunting "new" presence, then gradually coming to terms with one's fears and reservations, and finally giving birth to a new identity while reclaiming one's own.
that the novel is a log of events and a tale of what might be in the