“The
wild card is all this is the thousand days, and we guess if we put our
heads together we'd come up with something - which ain't possible since
Sapphira Wade don't live in the part of our memory we can use to form
words" (4).
Naylor splits Mama Day
into three distinct narrative voices. George, Cocoa, and "the
collective island voice" each narrate specific sections of the book.
What
does this passage say of memory? What does this say about the narrative
voice? Answer these questions if you wish, or say a few lines about
what you think is going on in the prologue overall. How does the island
voice know a name it is impossible to know? If you've read further than
the prologue at this point, say a little about this collective island
voice.
The prologue of Mama Day is an important section of the novel. The prologue not only gives us important information about the setting of the novel, but it also hints at the subject of the book, Cocoa and George. The first thing that I found interesting in the prologue was the island saying, “18 & 23.” The anecdote of Reema’s boy who searches for the meaning of the saying gives us important information about the island and its “collective voice”. The boy wants to learn the meaning of the saying in order to write a book on it. He asks everyone on the island what it means, and they all give him the same answer: “it was just our way of saying something.” Clearly, this is not the full definition of “18 & 23” which harkens back to the year 1823 when Sapphira Wade secured the island from Bascombe Wade. Later in the prologue, the island’s voice, which narrates the passage, tells us that if he had simply asked what it meant, they would have told them. This may seem confusing because it clearly states that he asked most people on the island what the saying meant, but later, it tells us that he did not ask in the right manner, or rather, did not ask the right people. The collective island voice suggests that if the boy had gone to the graveyard and really listened, he would have learned everything there is to know about “18 & 23.” He did not need to ask the actual inhabitants of the island; he needed to ask the island itself. As we find out throughout the remainder of the book, the “collective island voice” is not necessarily the sum of the people on the island; it is the island itself, which was there to see Sapphira claim the island and bear seven sons. This “collective island voice” is the same voice that whispered to Cocoa that she would break George’s heart and the same voice that allowed Mama Day to conjure Sapphira’s unknown name in a dream. The “collective island voice” is the personification of the magic aspect of the island which George had to fight to keep Cocoa alive and which ultimately killed him. The voice knows Sapphira’s name because it was there in 1823 when she took the island, and it will always be there as long as the island exists. The voice speaks for the past as we see when it reveals Sapphira’s real name to Mama Day, but it also speaks for the future as we see when it tells Cocoa that she is destined to break George’s heart.
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ReplyDeleteIn this passage the island voices attempt to explain that the knowledge of Saphria Wade to the island people is more of a concept than definite knowledge. The people, as stated in the prologue, know the legend and Bascome Wade and his slave, but they have no proof of the woman that supposedly stole his land. In this way to the people she is a legend because they know nothing specific about her, yet the island voices know all there is to know about her. The island voices know the name that is not possible to know because they are all-knowing. They have been around, it seems, since the beginning of the island and carry with them the island’s history and stories.
ReplyDeleteThe island voices play an important part throughout the novel, both too the reader and the characters. When the island voices narrate, the reader is able to see the thoughts and feelings of multiple people, as well as many antidotes of background information. Unlike the narration of George or Cocoa, the island voices sometimes tell stories that have seemingly nothing to do with the main characters, yet end up having an impact. A main example of this is the story of Saphria Wade given in the prologue, which has an impact on the end of the novel.
The island voices also speak to the characters in the story. When in the graveyard voices from the past speak to those who will listen. They provide warnings and advice to both Mama Day and Cocoa throughout the novel. They may not be speaking directly, but they can cause feelings that Mama Day knows how to interpret.
The prologue overall plays an extremely important role, one that the reader may not realize until they have finished the book. The prologue is, in essence, a short summary of the novel. The legend of Saphria Wade is examined, along with the Day family tree leading up to Mama Day and Cocoa. The story of Reema’s son is used to show the ways he could have found out the truth about the island. Instead of getting to know the people and their ways, he concluded that they were a society that based their lives on old stories and traditions. When explaining what would have happened if the boy had taken his time examining the people of the island, though, the story of the novel is revealed.
“How his name was George. But how Cocoa left, and he stayed” (9). These sentences reveal the novel’s ending, which was a great technique employed by Naylor. The reader unknowingly has read the book’s ending, yet throughout the novel it is all one can do to hope that George’s prescribed fate does not come true. Many other things are revealed to the reader, such as Cocoa remarries and does have children, but these details seem insignificant at the time they are first read in the prologue.
The novel’s prologue, a perplexing passage written in a style similar to stream-of-consciousness, is a fitting introduction to the story, establishing the tone and diction of the collective “island voice.” Immediately, the opening sentence’s mention of Sapphira Wade poses an intriguing question about the narrator’s memory. Despite the fact that the citizens of Willow Springs never speak of the legend, silent variations of the “conjure woman’s” powers run rampant throughout the community. This implies that, although Sapphira Wade may have existed, she is now an intangible (albeit powerful) aspect of the island. Because the slave woman’s memory has, over time, been transformed into lore, there is little need for Willow Spring’s citizenry to remember her name-it is only necessary that the legacy of her actions remains. Furthermore, the fact that the narrator is able to relate Sapphira’s elusive name to the reader indicates that the speaker is summoning information from the depths of memory, perhaps suggesting that the narrator is also divulging facts found exclusively in the population’s subconscious. I believe that the voice, detailing the overarching opinions, attitudes, and beliefs of the island’s inhabitants, transcends time, representing the spirits of those who occupied the island at its beginning, as well as those who currently populate it. In doing so, the island becomes a character in itself, assuming a unique voice by integrating the sentiments of every islander, those both living and dead.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the prologue lies within its emphasis on the island’s history. Though the opening pages also serve as an introduction to the chronicle of Cocoa and George, several of the anecdotes provided in the passage underscore the importance placed on Willow Spring’s past. For example, several pages are devoted to the phrase “18 & 23,” an expression employed when an individual is otherwise lost for words. A clear reference to the year in which the island was founded, the maxim is a constant reminder of Willow Spring’s origin, as well as of the enchantress that haunts the island’s memory. In another instance, a young man native to the island attempts to capture the essence of his hometown in a record, logging everything from “ethnography” to “unique speech patterns.” However, the island voice deems this endeavor a failure, as it neglects to accurately elucidate the infamous idiom “18 & 23.” Because the anthology’s author modifies the phrase into a technical term (the mistaken coordinates of the island’s latitude and longitude), the rich historical implications of the saying disappear, a blunder about which many of the islanders are blatantly displeased. The idea of having pride in one’s past is a theme that is prevalent throughout the chapters following the prologue and is aptly introduced in the opening pages.
I would say this passage is relating to instincts. The part of memory that doesn’t use words in born into a person and they keep it for all of their life. They know something, deep down, but it’s something that words can’t express. I don’t think George would have held this instinct, being that he wasn’t from the island’s past. However, the passage expresses the need for them to all join forces for them to even begin to understand this felt memory. I believe that this means that the narrators, the island, Cocoa, and George would have to come to an understanding with each other.
ReplyDeleteEvidently, this doesn’t happen, in fact none of them to listen to each other. George fights, and tries to leave the island to seek outside help, when in reality, what he needed was to listen to the island all along. He refuses to believe Mama Day, and reluctantly (causing him to be too late) attempts what she has asked of him. This is not the only issue though, there is a lack of communication between all of the narrators. Cocoa hears the island tell her she is to break his heart, but refuses to believe it and attempts to tune its voice out. George, foreign to the island, lacks the ability to comprehend any other messages that might have been sent to him. Cocoa and George, the two human narrators, are lacking in their communication skills as well. The beginning of their ends is caused by a pointless disagreement. This disagreement is the easiest to show since it is human. Both refused to listen to each other, said things out of anger, and in turn created a chain of events that determine both of their fates. When Cocoa attempts to rekindle their relationship, she is ignored publically by George. Angered, she leaves and sits on her front steps only to be found by the infamous Junior Lee. Distressed and worn thin, Cocoa tries to dissuade him. Junior Lee presses on only to find himself in the presence of Ruby. Ruby, vindictive and angry, plans her revenge. So on the story goes, ultimately resulting in George’s death. The point is, if they had taken five minutes out before getting so heated, the chain of reactions that resulted in death wouldn’t have occurred. Just as if Cocoa had listened to the island, she might have left in an attempt to save his heart. The two human narrators self focus causes the tragedy. If they had any patience with one another, I honestly believe the story would have gone a very different way.
The prologue of Mama Day for me was a confounding and fascinating part of the novel, written to establish this "collective island narrative voice" which is perplexing and unsettling at first but later becomes one of the most attributing aspects of the story. This enigmatic narrator is not necessarily the collective people of the island, but rather the actual island itself which contributes greatly to the magical tone of the island and the plot as well. Though the islanders never outwardly speak of Sapphira Wade, her legend plays an imperative role in the community and can be seen in the various stories of her powers as well as their common saying of 18 & 23. Because the narrator even conjures up and mentions Sapphira's name suggests that deep depths of memory, or possibly even merely a slight cognizance are in motion, and are evidently being drawn by all minds of the inhabitants of Willow Springs, regardless if they are dead, alive, or even fully aware of what is hiding in their subconscious. While George and Cocoa's perspectives separately augment the story line and provide points of views of living main characters actively involved in the happenings of the island currently, they are almost less significant and reliable than the narrator of the island in that they are solely providing their current viewpoint rather than the entire island's as well as often disagree with each other proving to be imperative yet intransigent characters who fall short due to human tendencies. It proves interesting that the three narrators are all very much connected yet expressed individually. George and Cocoa's relationship is highlighted throughout the novel, which the island voice adds to by providing the past of the island and how things came to be. This voice is the very same that whispers to Cocoa about breaking George's heart and the one George fails to hear, resulting in miscommunication and their eventual fate. The collective island voice provides a clairvoyant element of magic to the novel while simultaneously playing a large role in the stories of George and Cocoa.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading the prologue I had a similar interpretation to Taylor's. The name or the exact facts surrounding Sapphira Wade are irrelevant to the people of Willow Springs. The concept and the moral of the story are the factors that should be remembered. Sapphira wades story is not a story known for its concrete knowledge. It is the abstract, or the feeling the story ignites that contains the most significance.
ReplyDeleteIn the woods and in the grave yard Mama Day, Abigail, and Cocoa can feel the impact of the island voices. Though there may not actually be voices, the history and the past that surrounds the previous Day clan and "the other place" speak emotionally to the women. When the "voices of the island" communicate to Mama day, Abigail, and Cocoa the emotions they feel can be interpreted into a message. For example, before the storm Mama Day complains of an uneasiness in her heart. She turns her emotion into a possible declaration of a problem which then evolves into predicting the storm.
Also, upon finishing the book and returning to the prologue I found not only hints of foreshadowing but in essence a summary of the book. In the prologuize not only do we learn of Georges death or in this case the text reads "Cocoa left, and he stayed.", but we learn of Cocoa's life after her "first husband. Yes she tells him there was a first husband.", and we hear Mama Day talking to what appears to be Cocoa's child.
The prologue is essential in contributing many explanations and occurrences to the body of the book. We learn of the legend of Sapphira Wade and what it means to the natives of the island. We learn of George and Cocoa's relationship and its untimely demise. We learn of the beloved character Mama Day and her long life. Though the prologue provided many answers it also left many questions that would only discover if one was to complete the book.
This passage says a lot about memory. Initially, this passage hints that there are several different sections of memory. When the collective island voice states that "Sapphira Wade does not live in the part of the memory that does not form words", I think it is trying to say that Sapphira Wade is engrained into every islander. By saying that she is not in the part that can form words it means that she is there no matter what, and influences everyone, but is not the ability in itself to remember things.
ReplyDeleteThe prologue is interesting to me because of the isolation Willow Springs represents. Since it appeared on no map or was owned by any American citizen at the time Sapphira Wade acquired the deed, its people were isolated, and could live in the way they wanted to. This possibility for a unique culture is very appealing, and sets up the foundation for the beliefs of the people. Why do the inhabitants believe in magic and the supernatural? They believe in these things because that is the way the founders of the land believed, and there is no outside influence to stir up beliefs. None of the islanders want to sell their property to developers because they have grown accustomed to their own way of life and enjoy this peaceful seclusion from the American mainland. The small bridge that exists between Willow Springs and the mainland shows that some change has taken place, but Willow Springs stays secluded with their own personal values first in mind.
The narration techniques employed by Gloria Naylor in the telling of this book are unique and uncommon. This complex narrative uses two alternating first person perspectives and an omniscient third person narrator, referred to in this blog as the "collective island voice". This last narrator stated is hard to define, but works well within the story, allowing Naylor to fill in gaps that restrict first person narration, and synchronously sustains the supernatural tone of the novel as Jenna aptly states. This style of storytelling Naylor incorporates can be confusing at times. The reader is faced with a mixture of past, present, and future, and presented with ambiguity between realism and fantasy. This level of confusion is deliberately implemented by the author, and parallels the confusion and mystery of the supernatural, one of the driving themes in the novel. The communal objective voice is essential to the novel's character and message.
ReplyDeleteThe prologue is addressing the heritage and tradition of the island. No one can describe Sapphira Wade, yet her ways define the island. An understanding of each other's ways and the age old traditions reverberate throughout the island. An indescribable heritage is present in all the mind's of the Willow Spring Islanders.
ReplyDeleteThe prologue shows us the seclusion of Willow Springs and their isolation from the outside world. Willow Springs in relation to everyone else does not exist because it is not on a map and is not owned by any state; yet, Willow Springs represents heritage, tradition, family, and something to call their own to the people of Willow Springs. The islanders believe in magic; and in their land magic does seem to work. Would this magic be present and work if not for Willow Springs and its history? If not for Willow Springs and its seclusion from the world, magic would not work and the islanders would slowly lose their character, history, and magic.
The Prologue helps set the scene for the rest of the novel. The island and those that live on it are examined and portions of the stories are laid out to the reader. From the start of the novel, we see the island as its own world. The people, places and events that occur in this “world” are almost isolated from all other reality. This establishes a reverent and mystical tone that the island carries. This allows the reader to engross themselves in the story of Cocoa and George as well as those around them. The island as a narrator can often times prove confusing, but it is a very interesting approach that Naylor uses and I feel that as the novel progresses, the reader can appreciate.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the entire novel there is a clear bond between the physical island and those that inhabit it. I couldn’t help but think of Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon while reading this novel. Apart from the fact that they are both African American themed novels, we also see a strong bond between land, family, and a somewhat “mystical” presence that bind them all together. In Mama Day the reader has the Island to serve as the connection.
I agree with Taylor in saying that the Island has an “indescribable heritage” (White, line 3). It’s interesting that in the passage provided to us that most people could not tell about Sapphira Wade, yet most felt a connection to her through the land. This description also reminds me of Song of Solomon and the relationship that Milkman had with his family. The reader is simply made to know that the relationship exists, not the means by which it exists.
The prologue sets the tone for the entire novel. The island is set to be an entirely different place from the rest of the world because it is indeed different. This is also shown by the fact that it does not belong to any state and is not on any map. The island is apart of the story just as much as any of the people in it. It has a voice of its own through narration and seems like it feels the emotions of the inhabitants on it. This secluded island host a magical atmosphere that is only possible because of the history of the island and the fact that the island is separate from the rest of the world, a special location which hosts magic unbeknownst to the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteThis passage is actually one of my favorites in the entire novel. It set the bar with regards to the level of beauty with which Naylor writes and introduces the theme of mystique with the phrase “Sapphira Wade don't live in the part of our memory we can use to form words.” This is not a normal way to approach memory; most do not regard memory as a part of the brain, but a collection of thoughts and images that make up a time and place and person. However, here Nayor implies that Sapphira can’t be thought of in a normal fasion as she was not a normal human being—she was a woman of legend with unspeakable respect in the minds of the people of Willow Springs. The narrative voice that reoccurs throughout the novel is the most lyrical and formal voice. The passages written from Cocoa and George’s point of view can be described as casual and friendly, like a letter written with love and understanding. However, the narrative voice gives the most information about the magic taking place on the island and is therefore the most mysterious and fantastical tone. It can be argued that the narrative voice knows the name of Sapphira because the name is known by all, but that the people of Willow Springs choose to ignore the name of the woman who is so powerful that even in death she can alter the outcome of daily life. The suspicious nature of the majority of the characters in this novel is keeping with the idea of “hoodoo” and witchcraft, a theme that the narrative voice introduces very early on in this novel. I enjoyed reading the sections told by the narrative voice the most as, in my opinion, they were the most thoughtfully written and beautifully put together. The lyrical diction truly transports the reader into the “paradise” that is Willow Springs and makes the presence of magic completely believable.
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