Sing Unburied Sing Essay

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Food and hunger have been a foundation of relationships for centuries. Food and feeding play a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of relationships between children and parents, serving as more than just a concept of nourishment. Sing Unburied Sing is a novel written by Jesmyn Ward which takes place in Mississippi in the 1940s. It dives into the issues of family, identity, and the legacy of racial injustice in Southern America. The book follows the journey of a broken family as they go on a road trip to pick up main character Jojo and his sister Michaela, or Kayla’s father, who is being released from prison. Along with themes of poverty, addiction, and racism, Ward incorporates a story that explores traumas that haunt characters and the …show more content…

Feeding in the novel suggests a parental instinct in characters who provide food to others. Food and feeding in Sing, Unburied, Sing represent traits shown in multiple characters; Leonie’s parenting quality is explained by her lack of providing food, and the imbalance between her and her son is presented through the distribution of feeding. Through the motif of food, Ward displays the complexity of relationships between parents and their children. The novel illustrates how characters like Leonie fail to fulfill their maternal duties, neglecting their children's basic needs. In contrast to this, characters like Jojo step up into parental roles, demonstrating selflessness and care for others as he ensures the sustenance of Kayla. Sing, Unburied, Sing reveals how food becomes more than an object. It becomes a metaphor for love and responsibility. Mam is a representative of maternal instinct and nurturing care, contrasting with Leonie's lack of commitment. Mam's concern for Jojo's well-being shows the depth of her love and commitment to the children in her care. The significance of food resonates deeply with readers as it relates to the human experience of being

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