This speech was both startlingly captivating and thought provoking. I truly enjoyed reading it and seeing how Morrison made her connection to the bird in the young person's hand to language. I really enjoyed her example of the Tower of Babel and specifically the sentence, "Perhaps the achievement of Paradise was premature, a little hasty if no one could take the time to understand other languages, other views, other narratives period. Had they, the heaven they imagined might have been found at their feet. Complicated, demanding, yes, but a view of heaven as life; not heaven as post-life." These are just a few of the sentences I found to be the most thoughtful and profound. I truly loved the end of the speech where Morrison speaks from the youth's perspective of being interested and curious as to what the old woman would be willing to do to offer them wisdom. The question to the old woman as to why she did not just reach her hand out at touch the bird was interesting. Had she done that in the first place would she have shown the children that there is more to life than searching for wisdom, because even the most wise people do not always know the answer. There will always be someone willing to question us and push us to our capacities.
This definitely gave me a lot to think about. I have had many discussions with teachers and peers before about how limiting and undescriptive language can be. It chains us and it is often our only means of expression in many ways.
Another sentence I really liked, "It is common among the infantile heads of state and power merchants whose evacuated language leaves them with no access to what is left of their human instincts for they speak only to those who obey, or in order to force obedience.
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I felt the same way after reading this. Like it was captivating to read and it left me thinking what language really is after. The sentences you chose are pretty powerful and somewhat symbolic
ReplyDeleteI agree that is exactly how I felt. I liked how she connected it with the childrens' perspective in the end. I just found it more confusing because she was trying to show both sides. Overall I agree that this was great.
ReplyDeleteI think that's great how you've had a lot of experiences to talk about that kind of stuff with your teachers. I should start reading more to broaden my horizons =X You chose a lot of great lines and I definitely agree with the people above me!
ReplyDeleteThe quote from the reading about people in power and how language is used at the end I think is eye opening. I really liked that too, and I think it says a lot about the point that Toni Morrison is trying to make about language.
ReplyDeletei also agree that the over all idea of this piece with language is powerful.( espcially after i really got the grasp of it after disucssion in class today) There are many times where i try to put my emotions or try to articulate my words and try to put it in to paper in language but i agree with you that sometimes it does feel limiting. I defiantly agree with you!
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