Elizabeth Abel, who is a
white
feminist writer, viewed Twyla as white because she focused on the social situations in which the characters find themselves. Abel also mentions that most white readers read Twyla as white, while most black readers read Twyla as black (Abel 471).
Who is Twyla in Recitatif?
Twyla is
the narrator of the story
, and along with Roberta is its main character. She is eight years old when the story opens, and has been brought to live at St.
What race are the characters in Recitatif?
The story is, then, in several ways, Twyla’s “recitatif.” “Recitatif” is a story in racial writing, as the
race of Twyla
and Roberta are debatable. Though the characters are clearly separated by class, neither is affirmed as African-American or White.
Why is Twyla the protagonist in Recitatif?
Twyla is humiliated by Roberta’s snub when she does not recognize Hendrix as a famous musician. Later on in the story, they meet again at the market. … Throughout the story,
Twyla struggles to define her complicated relationship with Roberta
. The story unfolds through Twyla’s viewpoint and that makes her the protagonist.
How does Twyla change in Recitatif?
Expert Answers
Twyla Benson
grows up and outgrows her mother’s racial prejudices
. As a young girl, she’s opposed to sharing a space with Roberta because she’s black. However, that attitude quickly disappears, and they become friends until Roberta leaves the orphanage where the girls live.
Is Recitatif a pessimistic story?
This is identified as a pessimistic story because throughout the girl ‘
s relationship
, loving moments such as the interactions between mothers and their reunion in Howard Johnson ‘s is covered by racial hate. …
What type of students are both Twyla and Roberta?
What type of students are both Twyla and Roberta?
They are failures and have trouble learning and paying attention
. You just studied 10 terms!
Why is the story called Recitatif?
“Recitatif” is Toni Morrison’s only published short story. The title
alludes to a style of musical declamation that hovers between song and ordinary speech
; it is used for dialogic and narrative interludes during operas and oratories.
What does dancing mean in Recitatif?
Dancing is
associated with abnormality and deviance throughout
the story. The gar girls dance in the orchard to music from the radio, a detail that conveys their sexuality and rebelliousness. When explaining why she ran away from St. … A more metaphorical form of dancing is associated with the character of Maggie.
Are Twyla and Roberta in Toni Morrison’s Recitatif true friends or something else?
The Complex Nature of Friendship
On one side is Twyla, who without pause considers
Roberta a friend
and the one person she most truly connects with given their shared time at St. Bonny’s.
Is Twyla black?
Abel also mentions that most white readers read Twyla as white, while
most black readers read Twyla as black
(Abel 471). In Abel’s interpretation, Twyla looks towards Roberta’s socio-economic status as something she desires and feels like she deserves.
Who does Roberta marry in Recitatif?
When she and Twyla meet in the gourmet market, she has married a rich man,
Kenneth Norton
, and become the stepmother to his four children.
Is Twyla a round character?
Both Roberta and
Twyla are round characters
since they are the most complex characters through the story and keep changing as the story evolves.
Is Twyla a white name?
Is Twyla white? Abel also mentions that
most white readers read Twyla as white
, while most black readers read Twyla as black (Abel 471). In Abel’s interpretation, Twyla looks towards Roberta’s socio-economic status as something she desires and feels like she deserves.
Are Twyla and Roberta friends?
Aside from the familial overtones of their relationship, Twyla and Roberta’s friendship itself is also
intensely charged
. They begin as enemies, predisposed to dislike each other because of racial prejudice. Although they become very close during their time at St.
What does Maggie symbolize in Recitatif?
In “Recitatif,” Maggie represents
the “outsider
.” The way she is treated by both the big kids and by Twyla and Roberta represents the individual whose voice is marginalized. Maggie is on the outside and does not experience solidarity with anyone.
