In-text citation:
(Kibin, 2025)
Reference list entry:
Kibin. (2025). A character analysis of maggie in recitatif by toni morrison. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/a-character-analysis-of-maggie-in-recitatif-by-toni-morrison-BU3nDz8i
Maggie the Outsider
In the story “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison I believe that Maggie is the most important character. She brought the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta, together. Maggie also represents the two main characters mother’s. Maggie is also the last person we are left thinking about at the end of the story. She has a connection with all the characters in the story and that is why she is important.
Maggie is used to represent Roberta and Twyla’s mothers. “I didn’t kick her; I didn’t join in with the gar girls and kick that lady, but I sure did want to. We watched and never tried to help her and never called for help. Maggie was my dancing mother. Deaf, I thought, and dumb…Rocking, dancing, swaying as she walked (page 145).” Maggie represented Twyla’s mother because she danced as her mother did. Maggie was sick because she wobbled her legs like “parenthesis” as she walked. Twyla described this walking as dancing. Roberta’s mother was sick and so was Maggie. Maggie represented both mothers in one character.
Maggie created the friendship between Twyla and Roberta. They bonded through Maggie by bullying her together. “’Let’s call her,’ I said. And we did. ‘Dummy! Dummy!’ She never turned her head. ‘Bow legs! Bow legs!’ Nothing. (pg.133)” This was the first conversation in the story that they has about Maggie. Every time Roberta and Twyla ran into each other they had a conversation about Maggie. They argued because Roberta said that Twyla beat Maggie up along with the older girls. Twyla did not remember that ever happening because Roberta was lying to make her look bad in front of the protestors. Roberta later apologized when they saw each
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