Review of "Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination" by Toni Morrison: [Essay Example], 353 words
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Review of "Playing in The Dark: Whiteness and The Literary Imagination" by Toni Morrison

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Words: 353 |

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2 min read

Updated: 16 January, 2025

Essay grade:
Good
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Words: 353|Page: 1|2 min read

Updated: 16 January, 2025

Essay grade:
Good
arrow downward Read Review

Reading Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination, Toni Morrison thoughtfully explores the importance of African Americans in the American literary imagination. Morrison shares her concerns with American language and the American literary imagination being both characteristically white, and questions the impact of this whiteness upon American writers.

In chapter 1, entitled Black Matters, Morrison centers on Willa Cather's virtually ignored novel, ‘Saphira and the Slave Girl’, claiming that the books critical point and power originates from the way that Cather describes a white mistress who exercises control over her black slave girl's body and ultimately defines herself against and within the ‘Africanist’ presence around her. Saphira convinces herself that her husband is having an affair with Nancy, daughter of one of her slaves, and attempted to kill her, however, Saphira failed, then later on decided to send off her nephew to rape and eradicate Nancy.

Neither of Saphira’s plans worked primarily because Rachel, Saphira’s daughter, took Nancy under her wing and managed Nancy’s escape from her horrible master. In this chapter, Morrison goes on to parallel the metaphor of the white slave mistress who uses the black female body with Cather herself as a white author who exploits the vehicle of blackness in her fiction to define her beliefs of whiteness and femininity. Morrison's second section, Romancing the Shadow, deals principally with Edgar Allen Poe and the logic between American Romantic sentiments of egalitarian liberty and black slavery, in which a large number of racial portrayals were played out.

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Morrison contends here that as nineteenth-century Americans battled with inquiries of human freedom, the social hierarchy, and individual will, the black body became the focus for meditation on these issues of human freedom, its lure and elusiveness. She considers Romance as a sphere in which exists a head-on experience with real, pressing historical forces and the logical inconsistencies inherent in them as they came to be experienced by writers. Thus, enabling Morrison to investigate a greater reality-based reading of these writings and their racial perspectives with a specific end goal to look at the non-white, African, "fabricated" presence and its function in American literature.

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This essay was graded by
Dr. Charlotte Jacobson
Essay’s grade:
Good
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Expert Review
This essay provides a compelling analysis of Toni Morrison's "Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination," delving into the significance of African Americans within American literature. The writer effectively explores Morrison's critique of the pervasive whiteness in American literary imagination and its implications for writers. By examining works like Willa Cather's "Saphira and the Slave Girl," the essay highlights how white authors have historically defined themselves through contrasting depictions of black characters, thus shedding light on racial dynamics. The discussion extends to Edgar Allen Poe, where Morrison's insights into 19th-century American Romanticism and its complex relationship with race are thoughtfully examined. The essay successfully captures Morrison's argument that the black body served as a focal point for broader societal reflections on freedom and identity. Overall, this piece offers a nuanced interpretation of Morrison's work, earning it a commendable score of 4.3 out of 5. However, further depth in analysis could elevate its impact even more significantly.
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What can be improved
While this essay offers a strong analysis of Toni Morrison's "Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination," there are several areas where it could be enhanced for greater depth and clarity. Firstly, a more detailed examination of the historical context surrounding Willa Cather's "Saphira and the Slave Girl" would provide readers with a better understanding of the societal norms and attitudes that influenced Cather's writing. Additionally, incorporating specific examples from Morrison’s text would strengthen the argument by grounding it in her original language and ideas. Moreover, while the essay touches on significant themes, such as race, identity, and freedom, further exploration of how these themes intersect with contemporary literary discourse could enrich the analysis. Expanding on Morrison's insights into how whiteness shapes literary narratives today would make for a more comprehensive discussion. Lastly, varying sentence structure and employing more vivid language could enhance readability and engagement. By addressing these aspects, the essay could achieve an even higher level of academic rigor and impact. Overall, this piece demonstrates solid understanding but has potential for deeper exploration that would elevate its critical insight.

Cite this Essay

Review of “Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination” by Toni Morrison. (2019, February 27). GradesFixer. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/playing-in-the-dark-whiteness-and-the-literary-imagination/
“Review of “Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination” by Toni Morrison.” GradesFixer, 27 Feb. 2019, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/playing-in-the-dark-whiteness-and-the-literary-imagination/
Review of “Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination” by Toni Morrison. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/playing-in-the-dark-whiteness-and-the-literary-imagination/> [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Review of “Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination” by Toni Morrison [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2019 Feb 27 [cited 2025 Feb 17]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/playing-in-the-dark-whiteness-and-the-literary-imagination/
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