Ross Barramen

English 102

Christina 

February 1, 2016

Close Reading: Sweetness

Toni Morrison is not a very widely known writer but regardless of this fact he is a very talented one to say the least. The short story Sweetness by Toni Morrison is a power story regarding the effects of racism and judgement on a mother and her child. Morrison uses point of view to develop a very dark and depressing story about a mother who struggles with her child being born a dark black female. The mother narrating the story in the first person allows the audience to experience the conflicting thought and emotions that the mother faces developing a dark tone which creates a very powerful story. The mother confessing her intimate thoughts on her child's skin color reflects how detrimental racism can be to a person's actions, even the mother of her own child.

A light skinned mother delivers a brand new baby and instead of being overwhelmed by joy and love the first thing she felt was if she just had birthed a problem. Once the mother had seen her child for the first time she was overwhelmed with feelings of distain and fear for what the future of this dark skinned child would face through its life time. Toni Morison uses the powerfully opinionated point of view the mother to emphasize the effects of racism in our society. For example, "They pulled her out from between my legs for me to realize something was wrong. Really wrong. She was so black she scared me." This young black mothers racist feelings towards her own child show how powerful fear of judgement by others can affect people's thoughts, emotion and actions. The thought of a black mother being disappointed in her daughter being darker than herself is very depressing. This story's meaning brings that idea into perspective. A mother only wants best for her child, no different than the mother of this story, and this mother feels as if her daughter being black puts her in place to face many challenges. The mother of this story watched how racism affected her own mother's life. When her white father and black mother were married, her mother was forced to place her hand on a colored only bible while her white father was able to place his on the white's only bible. This highlights the shame that racism brings on those affected by it. This mother didn't want her daughter to have to face a life of shame and not have all the opportunities that are available in the world. The mother felt as if being black was a major disadvantage. The mother's thoughts being so powerful better help to convey this meaning. For example, "I even thought of giving her away to an orphanage someplace." The fact that she had such extreme thoughts as to give her child away not because she was unable to mother the child but because it was black is very intimate thought further adding intensity to the story. The mothers' fear of what people will think about her black child is what truly brings into hindsight how power racism can be. First her husband leaves her because he couldn't stand having a dark skin child to the point that "he never even touched her". Than when the mother searches for a place to live after being abandon by her husband she would leave Lula Ann at home so that land lords wouldn't denie her the right to live in their apartments because of the deep color of her daughters skin. The mother stopped pushing Lula Ann in her baby carriage because "people would lean down and peek in to say something nice and then give a start or jump back before frowning." The events of radical judgement this mother faces because of her child's skin color are endless and help to clarify why the mother has such hostility towards her very own daughter. Morrison's use of the first person point of view narrating this story provides vivid emotion to develop intensity in the story and show how painful racism can be, yet he still includes more literary techniques to further develop the story.  

When you first read the begging of this story it's virtually impossible not to judge this mother for the way she views her own child. Morrison use of characterization of this mother is intentional, but as you continue reading you begin to understand the conflicts she faces which changes the audience's feelings toward the mother shift. Morrisons use of characterization is vital to making his point on the destruction of racism beucause the thought of a black mother being racist towards her own child is extremely significant. The mothers first person point of view allows a dark mood to be established but it's the dynamic of the mothers character that proves how harmful racism can be. For example the mother once said . "I told her to call me "Sweetness"instead of "Mother" or "Mama."It was safer. Her being that black and having what I think are too thick lips and calling me "Mama "would've confused people". A mother not wanting her own daughter her to call her Mother because of embarrassment of what people think of her black daughter is rather intense. It is impossible for the audience not to judge this mother and develop not a hatred, but an option for. Morrison made the audience have a negative connotation toward the mother on purpose. The power of racism is once more highlighted.  The dynamic of feeling the audience has shifts toward the mother shifts towards the end of the story. The mother is viewed negatively in the beginning of the story by the audience, but towards the end the audience gain understanding and compassion. Thee mother has to make very tough discussions on how she raises her child in the racist world live in. The mother was very tough and cold hearted with her daughter in order to breed a young women who would keep to herself in order to avoid persecution. "If I sound irritable, ungrateful, part of it is because underneath is regret". In this sentence the mother show remorse which leads the audience to have compassion for her. In the end of the story when the audience has found out her daughter is all grown, moved to California and no longer talking to her mother the audience once more has compassion for the mother. Lula Ann now all grow rights to her mother just one time, telling her mother she pregnant. "See how she turned out? A rich career girl. Can you beat it? Now she's pregnant. Good move, Lula Ann".  This sentence reflects not only how proud she is of her daughter, but almost reefers her decision in how she raised her daughter, because look at her now. This near ending sentence makes the audience understanding and accept the mothers past behaviors. The characterization of this mother shifting dramatically adds depth to the story and the meaning of how powerful racism can be.

This story sends a very power message about the effects racism can have on those affected by it. Toni Morrison uses mainly point of view and characterization in order to help develop his point on the effects of racism. This is a well written piece of literature with much depth in to the negative of racism, even how it effects the mother of her own daughter.  Close reading of a text needs to include why a text is powerful or is worth reading; what behind the story or meaning makes an average text with the same plot differ form a worthwhile piece of writing. Point of view can add such substance to a plot and change everything about how you think of one subject. Thinking of this family through a middle age white male who has a conservative background would have broadcasted a completely different feeling and meaning. Characterization as well is a very powerful tool in order to make a story convey the meaning they wish. If Morrison makes the audience feel as if the mother is a very kind, soft, and gentle women, how would you be able to understand the intensity of racism. It would be impossible to picture her loving her child and supporting her though everything while still showing the harm racism brings to those effected. Close reading of these writing tools is very nesicarry in order to bring the depth that "Sweetness" provides.
