Essay Final Draft

Gokul Muru

Ms. Wilson

English IVA

29 August 2014

 

Analysis:

This paragraph that I have picked is a clear representation of the theme of overcoming darkness. As a whole, this paragraph effectively shows the consequences of an action which was described near the mid-point of the story. This action has been reiterated throughout key points within the novel, however what the action was and how it affected others, did not appear until the very end of the book. Many conflicts that the characters face are resolved within this paragraph. This paragraph from the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison, carries itself with the uses of mild diction, powerful imagery, and various uses of syntax in order to convey the theme of overcoming darkness.

Firstly, the diction plays a central role in the usefulness of this last paragraph. “Occasionally, however the rustle of a skirt hushes when they wake, and the knuckles brushing a cheek in sleep seem to belong to a sleeper,” (Morrison 324). This line exemplifies how diction has proved to be very vital to the paragraph. Words such as “hushes” and “brushing” allow for the reader to get a sense of the presence of darkness. Obviously, it does not state that the darkness is involved with potential harmful behavior at this point of the story, however it keeps an eye on the characters. The paragraph references sleep through the use of words such as “sleeper” which help to carry the tone that darkness is a sort of a nightmare and carries no reality within the story as of now. The darkness is only present within small traces without completely being eliminated; this idea is effectively conveyed by the author through the use of her words.  Diction seen in this passage serves as an indication that climax point has been reached.  

Secondly, imagery plays a key role in describing the darkness that once haunted the two main characters of the novel, Sethe and Denver.  The novel states, “It took longer for those who had spoken to her, lived with her, fallen in love with her, to forget until they realized they couldn’t remember or respect a single thing she said, and began to believe that,” (Morrison 323-324). Lines such as “spoken to her,” “lived with her,” and “they couldn’t remember or respect a single thing she said,” helps to establish the presence of a figure. The book conveys the character as a loving individual. Even though the imagery is not explicit within the paragraph, it carries an implicit statement that allows the reader to imagine a presence that they believed to have been very consoling. The imagery does not give specifics of the character’s looks, however it gives the freedom to the reader to imagine this character for themselves. This type of implicit imagery allows for the character to be connected to the reader in a more emotional manner. Therefore, it establishes a well-defined conclusion that is vital to the rest of the novel.

Thirdly, the various types of syntax, ranging from small to large sentences, help establish tone and mood within the novel. The conclusion of the novel carries a pattern of a chunky paragraph followed with a small paragraph; this pattern occurs three times. The passage is here as follows, “In the place where long grass opens, the girl who waited to be loved and cry shame erupts into her separate parts, to make it easy for the chewing laughter to swallow her all away. (new paragraph) It was not a story to pass on,” (Morrison 323). The sentence structures help to pace the ending of the novel at a much slower rate. Lines in between two big paragraphs such as “It was not story to pass on,” help to create an effect that the darkness involved in the story is defined as an idea that is inevitable.  The syntax by slowing down also creates the illusion of suspense of whether the darkness will come back to haunt them.

All in all, Toni Morrison utilizes syntax, figurative language, and imagery to create the intended effect for the reader. This effect allows for the reader to assume that darkness is still in trace quantities within Sethe and Denver’s household. The language, although cryptic at certain points, implies that darkness is never fully overcome; the memories of that darkness always remain intact, but they are dismissed as that of a bad dream. Without the effect of imagery Toni Morrison would not have been able to create a light-weighted effect within a heavy concept. Without the mixture of syntax, the mixture of subtleness and intensity would not have been present.   Without the use of figurative language, this metaphorical passage would not have been relatable to the audience. Therefore, the last set of paragraphs were essential to establishing the overall theme of the novel.