Paul D's description of the rooster Mister is one that is much like how a slave would describe one of their master's. Just the name "Mister" is exactly what a slave would refer to their master as. Paul D describes the situation when he says,"'I wasn't even thinking about the bit. Just Halle and before him Sixo, but when I saw Mister I knew it was me too. Not just them, me too. One crazy, one sold, one missing, one burnt and me licking iron with my hands crossed behind me. The last of the Sweet Home men...Mister was allowed to be and stay what he was. But I wasn't allowed to be and stay what I was'"(Morrison 86).
The entire life of a slave is filled with a lack of freedom. This lack of freedom exists because of the chattel slavery that the slaves are forced to endure. From the moment they are born, they are forced to feel less than human. But, it is at this point in Paul D's life that he only feels the animalistic nature he is forced to live and not the human side. He does not only feel like an animal, he feels less than an animal. Mister is his superior in this instance.
This description of Paul D's experience with the iron bit is one of the most valuable descriptions of slavery that Toni Morrison provides. Even though the setting of the story is in post civil-war America, Morrison utilizes her seamless use of point of view manipulation to incorporate an important part of American history in her story that incorporates supernatural elements.
I agree with this, and I appreciate that you brought up evidence that I didn't even consider when reading the passage. The Mister/Master parallel is interesting and really important. I think you're right that whole scene with Mister is so brief, but the intense imagery of the iron bit and description of the rooster really prove Morrison's point.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a very interesting point about this scene. I didn't think too hard about it when I read it, but of course it has such a complex and somewhat horrifying meaning behind it, just like everything else in this book.
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