Toni Morrison, in her acceptance speech “The Nobel Lecture in Literature”(1993), asserts that language is a powerful entity that can be molded to be used for just and moral purposes, but at the same time it can be used for the opposite. Morrison supports this claim by telling over a fable of two children who asked a question to a wise woman. Her purpose is to show the importance of language and explain how she crafted her works by using language the right way. She addresses the members of the Swedish Academy, using an educator approach, as she accepts her Nobel Prize in Literature.
1. Toni Morrison has a very unique take on language. She believes that it can be used for good and important causes, but at the same time it can be used for violence and used to cover up “rape, torture, assassination.” Therefore, she brings up the fable of the dead bird to prove that language is “in your hands.” The children can either kill the “bird” or let it live, but it is up to them. Language is the same way, you can either help it develop and thrive or let it die and shrivel away. People have the power to create something terrible or something beautiful, which is what Morrison asserts in her speech.
2.There was an interesting relationship that developed overtime between the wise woman and the two children. At the first, the children wanted to bother the wise woman and challenge her smarts. However, the woman didn't get angry with the children, rather she expected more from them. She had expectations for them and wanted them to act with responsibility. Towards the end, the children’s perspective changed. They realized their stupidity, and they then desired experience and knowledge from the woman. They wanted her skills and understanding. The woman didn't desire anything at the end because she got what she wanted. She made the children value life and value understanding. The children changed from start to finish, while the woman received what she wanted from them.
3. The use of the fable adds a certain edge to the story that could not have been accomplished any other way. By using the fable, she hooks the attention of the listeners. Like any good storyteller, she pulls the audience into her words with a story. Then once she has the crowd, she can then focus on her main ideas and main takeaways from her speech. The “once upon a time” instantly grabbed my attention, and I was on my toes, eagerly anticipating the next part of the fable. I think the fable fits with the speech because it allows Morrison to be creative, but at the same time informative.
1. Toni Morrison has a very unique take on language. She believes that it can be used for good and important causes, but at the same time it can be used for violence and used to cover up “rape, torture, assassination.” Therefore, she brings up the fable of the dead bird to prove that language is “in your hands.” The children can either kill the “bird” or let it live, but it is up to them. Language is the same way, you can either help it develop and thrive or let it die and shrivel away. People have the power to create something terrible or something beautiful, which is what Morrison asserts in her speech.
2.There was an interesting relationship that developed overtime between the wise woman and the two children. At the first, the children wanted to bother the wise woman and challenge her smarts. However, the woman didn't get angry with the children, rather she expected more from them. She had expectations for them and wanted them to act with responsibility. Towards the end, the children’s perspective changed. They realized their stupidity, and they then desired experience and knowledge from the woman. They wanted her skills and understanding. The woman didn't desire anything at the end because she got what she wanted. She made the children value life and value understanding. The children changed from start to finish, while the woman received what she wanted from them.
3. The use of the fable adds a certain edge to the story that could not have been accomplished any other way. By using the fable, she hooks the attention of the listeners. Like any good storyteller, she pulls the audience into her words with a story. Then once she has the crowd, she can then focus on her main ideas and main takeaways from her speech. The “once upon a time” instantly grabbed my attention, and I was on my toes, eagerly anticipating the next part of the fable. I think the fable fits with the speech because it allows Morrison to be creative, but at the same time informative.
I really liked your answers, especially #3. But what are you saying with the dead bird pic? Is that what you think of the state of language?
ReplyDeletePrecis--2nd sentence could have been a little more fleshed out.