Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Brown Girl Dreaming--Category A Prompt B
One of the key motifs that can be found throughout Jaqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming is family. Family is central to this novel and comes in many different forms throughout the story. Jackie's family is arguably her most discussed topic in the novel, and she captures how her concept of family changes as she gets older and adapts her definition of the word as her family dynamic changes. I chose the passage entitled "The Candy Lady" because while initially it may seem insignificant, I actually believe this passage makes a big contribution to the family motif within the novel.
First and foremost, the passage starts with Jackie's grandfather defending his intent to take them to the Candy Lady by telling them to "open [their] mouths to show the strong teeth [they] have inherited from his side of the family." (Woodson, Ebook) Their grandfather is attributing the children's ability to eat sweets without their teeth rotting, while also giving them the image of strength based on family ties and ancestry. Jackie continues by saying that the children proudly stand there with their mouths open wide, displaying this inherited trait to their grandmother.
The next instance in the passage that highlights the family motif is a small, yet significant one. When their grandfather orders himself an ice cream cone, the children all jump up and down saying, "me too, daddy." (Woodson) While it may not seem like much, this simple declaration shows how their understanding of family has adapted since their mother left their father. While this man is actually their grandfather, they recognize him as the primary father figure in their lives, whether they realize it or not. At a later point in the novel, it is said by their grandmother that their grandfather is unable to say no to them in regards to the Candy Lady's house. This is a common conversation between parental figures, which further emphasizes the overarching family dynamic of the novel, without assigning specific roles to relatives based on titles. The same can be said of Jackie's close relationship with her aunt that passes away. Jackie says that she sees her aunt's features in her mother's, which diminishes the divide between relatives based simply on title.
Woodson, Jaqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen, 2014, Ebook.
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Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent passage that demonstrates the depth and flexibility of Jacqueline's definition of family. I would argue, though, that family is a theme of the novel, as motifs are usually a repeated symbol throughout a text. For example, teeth and facial structures are a motif that represents Jacqueline's connection to her family. We see it here with their strong teeth and with her fixation on the gaps between their teeth. Teeth as a motif reinforce the theme of familial belonging and inheritance. I wonder too if teeth has particular significance because of how her ancestors' teeth would be studied and appraised by slave owners at slave auctions. What used to be a marker of their value to the system of slavery is not a marker of family ties. That could be a stretch, but I think you can get there.