Precis
In her “Nobel Lecture on Literature” (1993), Toni Morrison establishes the power of language to develop or destroy nations, cultures and independence. Morrison tells a fable, uses sophisticated diction, and employs narration in her quest to honor the beauty of language throughout her speech. Morrison wishes to instill in her audience a love for language, a respect for something which has far more power than they had thought. She is preaching to any man or woman in the world who wants to learn about language.
Response
- Morrison has an extremely positive attitude towards language. This is a woman who had devoted her entire life to writing beautiful stories for others to enjoy. If you think Morrison’s work was only for the sake of her peers, however, you are sorely mistaken. Toni Morrison grew up as a black girl in a world where blacks were inferior to whites, and language was her main source of pride and it gave her a sense of belonging that she failed to find anywhere else.
- At the beginning of the story, the woman wants these kids to realize that the bird is in their hands. It is their responsibility, whether it is alive or dead. The bird, however, is symbolic of language, and the woman has disdain for these children who make language a matter which it was not intended to be. However, later in the story, she understands that these kids just want to learn about language and how to use it. They want her to teach them how to look at language the same way she does.
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