Morrison writes about Pauline's tooth in order to describe how society is so easily poisoned and destroyed by racism. As the "brown speck" first forms, it is small and insignificant, "easily mistaken for food", paralleling racism which was first mistaken as a positive to society, like the speck. However, the racism and slavery cut deep wounds into society's morals, doing so slowly and carefully so that society didn't truly realize the overpowering negative impacts that racism had. Over time, racism simply became an accepted way of life for both the blacks and whites, and eventually, the suppressed fought back against the racism, "leaving a ragged stump behind". As stumps are commonly associated with trees and life, the stump left behind was supposed to grow back and create a new, healthy tooth, representing the birth of a society with new morals. However, the damage already done by racism was debilitating and the tooth wasn't able to grow back. Morrison also writes that "there must have been the conditions... that would allow [the speck] to exist in the first place". In this final sentence, Morrison pins the blame of racism and the eventual destruction of society on society itself, describing society as the enabler that brings its own downfall.
Later, Pauline again has a tooth pulled out, this time by a piece of candy she eats while watching a movie, again, representing society hurting itself. By eating candy, an obviously unhealthy food, she hurts herself and causes her tooth to fall out, dropping her self-esteem. This small change in her features causes a significant change in her lifestyle. Juxtaposed with the perfect Jean Harlow, Pauline is suddenly a broken women, unable to fit the mold of the ideal women, leading to her being constantly beat by her own husband. The image of the idealized women, in this case Jean Harlow, cast by the media forces women to match a certain framework. Any digression, however small, from the norm is unacceptable. Again, society harms itself through not only racism, but the objectification of women.
Hey Ricardo,
ReplyDeleteYou made several fine analysis points. The comparison between a tooth and a tree was insightful, and I thought the comparison between tooth decay and racism even more so, as it shows its sly and undeniable power on people. Teeth seem like strong parts of people, and and racism breaks them down in one strike, like Cholly, and bit by bit, like a cavity, as with Pauline.
Hi Richard,
ReplyDeleteYour meta-pain analysis was extremely interesting. The fleck representing the digression from society was, in my mind, and unprecedented analysis yet one full of veracity. It was also interesting that you included that a tooth that has been pulled out can never be restored. It really shows the complete handicap of racial pain and death like nature of surviving rape. These malificent forces are ones that society has brought upon itself and now it must face the sins of its own origin. Nicely done Richard!
~Vineet Kamat