Ross Barramen

English 102

Christina Phillips

February 1, 2016

Close Reading: Sweetness

Toni Morrison is not a very widely known writer but regardless of this fact she is a very talented one to say the least. The short story Sweetness by Toni Morrison is a powerful 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 thoughts and emotions that the mother faces developing a dark tone and 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 and depicts the wild reality of how racism can effect how a mother views 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 quote was purposely included in the begging of this story to set a intense tone for the audience in order to understand how detrimental racism can be. This young black mother's 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. This mother only wants what is best for her child and this mother feels as if her daughter being black puts her in place to face many extreme challenges in life past anyone's control. 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 mother's 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." Morrison purposely lists these events clearly depicting racism in society to prove the point that the color of a persons skin did have an effect on quality of life and how Sweetness would face hardship for years to come. 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. Sweetness represents hardship racism can provide for those effected when growing up in such a judgmental society. 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 she 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. Morrison's use of characterization is vital to making his point on the destruction of racism because the thought of a black mother being racist towards her own child is extremely significant. The mother's first person point of view allows a dark mood to be established but it's the dynamic of the mother's 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 a judgmental opinion that this mother is letting societal racism effect this mother's actions negatively. 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. 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 mother's 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 effects of racism and even how it affects the mother of her own daughter.  Close reading of a text needs to include why a text is powerful or is worth reading. The meaning behind a text is what creates a lasting effect on audience and the meaning behind this story is memorable and sadly long lasting. 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 necessary in order to bring the depth that "Sweetness" provides.
