This week we read Toni Morrison’s piece, “Recitatif”. This is a short story discussing the experience of two young girls, Twyla and Roberta, living in St. Bonny’s orphanage and their multiple experiences encountering each other after their short four months together as roommates.
Twyla, the narrator and protagonist, shares an account of a kitchen lady, named Maggie, that worked at St. Bonny’s while the two girls resided there. Maggie was mute and presumed deaf. One day, she cut through the orchard at St. Bonny’s and fell. Other female residents, who spent time hanging out at the orchard, laughed at her; Twyla and Roberta witnessed her fall and did not offer her help. When wondering if Maggie were deaf, Twyla called out to her, “Dummy!” and “Bow legs!” as she described Maggie’s legs being bent “like parentheses,” (2 Morrison).
This brings to mind how individuals with disabilities have been historically treated, as the beginning portion of the story takes place in the 1950s, according to litcharts.com. In eighteenth and nineteenth century America, it was the town’s duty to take care of disabled individuals. Almshouses were provided to house these individuals along with criminals (Meldon). However, living conditions were inadequate as they lacked cleanliness, were often congested and unmonitored, and men and women resided together. During the nineteenth century, the number of criminals housed in these facilities expanded, leading to even more overcrowding. As a result, the new residences occupied by those a part of the disabled community were “lunatic” asylums (Meldon).
Poorhouse from the eighteenth century; residential building used for individuals with disabilities and criminals in addition to almshouses.
Since 1857, laws and policies have been established to encourage societal involvement of individuals with disabilities (Smeltzer et al 1.) However, many of these initial policies did not address health concerns or health care accessibility; they focused more on housing and income support (Smeltzer et al. 2). Established in 1979, the Healthy People Initiative worked to monitor and encourage national health objectives, but, in terms of disability, only its prevention was communicated. In 2000, Healthy People 2010 addressed the national health objectives for those individuals with disabilities, including the importance of their welfare (Smeltzer et al. 2).
The recognition of the health of individuals with disabilities have come a long way since 2000, with the passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The ACA provides these individuals with coverage for preventative care and the guarantee that they will not be refused health insurance for having a disability (Smeltzer et al 3).
Hi Mary!
Thank you for giving an insight to what children with disabilities experienced during the mid 1900’s. I feel most people only focus on the prejudice views towards whites and blacks when reading this story due to Twyla and Roberta’s different racial backgrounds, but you took the time to recognize the other aspect of the reading, which was Maggie’s disability. I liked how you sort of made a timeline, showing how the rights for disabled people has evolved over time!
Thanks for sharing Mary! I love how you incorporated what it is like for disabled children and how they have historically been treated. I really enjoyed how your research was more broad than just their racial backgrounds, you brought a new perspective and I think it will open many people’s eyes.
Hi Mary!
Thank you for your presentation I really enjoyed it, and I also like how you took a different perspective on this story rather than just the racial issues. I think it is really important to also understand how kids with disabilities were treated in this time period and how far we have come since then.
Hi Mary!
This blog really brings to light a very under-looked aspect of this story, the treatment of the disabled woman named Maggie. She was mute, which is a disability that nearly nobody talks about, but is a disability that deserves more awareness and support. Learning sign language is a start, and being aware of those around you is an important theme around this story.
Hi Mary!
This blog post was super informative, and brings to light the experiences of disabled people and how they’re treated very differently. I really liked how you gave specific examples of laws and acts to show the progress that has been made for this community over the years. I think it’s very necessary to talk about this, especially since its a very significant theme in Morrison’s text.
Hi Mary!
Thank you for the brief summary of “Recitatif”, It was hard for me to get my mind to organize this piece after reading it. It gives me a more clear vision of the part when Maggie fell. I also really appreciate that you provide us more information and background on how individuals with disabilities were treated. By knowing the information that it was the town’s responsibility to take care of disability during the eighteenth and nineteenth, I could better imagine and relate to this story’s narrative and understand why Roberta and Twyla were sent to St Bonny’s base on the time of period.
Hey Mary! I really liked your summary because it showed the reason as to why Maggie was at St. Bonny and showed the treatment of disabled people during that time. I also liked that you summarized the scene when Maggie fell as it was kinda confusing to me.
Hi Mary! I loved how you brought up Maggie and how disabled people have been treated! I especially liked how you brought this up since Maggie was a point that Twyla, the narrator kept going back to. I totally agree with your point of how we have come a long way on how we treat disabled people, and this essay does a good job of showing this point.
Hey Mary!
I really like how your context research presentation focused on Maggie. She was not a main character in the story of Twyla and Roberta but definitely significant in showing an Other relationship. I was not knowledgeable on how “insane asylums” came to be, and I found it interesting it started due to overcrowding of criminals housed disabled persons community homes. I am glad we have come such a long way protecting the rights and standing up for those with disabilities today.
Hey Mary,
I liked how you used Maggie as the main character and explain how disable people were treated like criminals, and had to share the same living space. And how nowadays they have rights and people fought for them, for a better life.
I loved reading Toni Morrison’s piece, “Recitatif” analysis, as it reveals the real story of Maggie and how she overcame obstacles on her path. I would love to complete the similar context presentation for my Literature class. When it comes to completing case study assignments, I prefer to ask experts from https://assignmentbro.com/ca/case-study-assignment-help for help as usually, it is so overwhelming and time-consuming. Getting case study assignment help can be a great way to complete the perfect presentation.