Jazz - An Introduction
Here, Jazz is neither a mobile operator by Mobilink nor a musical genre. Jazz is a novel written by an American author known as Toni Morrison which, at first, appeared in 1992. Jazz emerged as the second part of a trilogy (a literary piece divided into three parts - Example: Oedipus' Plays are divided into three parts) which began with Beloved and ended on Paradise, featuring the plight of African Americans. The novel won Pulitzer Prize and Novel Prize in 1993, just one year after the author hit the Publish button for her novel. Why was this novel made to win such high awards? The answer lies in the story and its themes which are jotted down in the novel.
The Age
The theme of youth versus age is highlighted through the love affair between Dorcas in her ending teenage and Joe in his fifties. It is a noteworthy point that Joe is a married person. But why does he forget to show his love to Violet Trace (his actual wife)? The answer is pretty simple. As asserted by Dorcas' aunt Alice Manfred, her youthful personality is a "budding sexuality that has brought calamity". What calamity? The unsatisfaction and jealousy in the heart of Violet Trace and to get rid of her "enticed" [cause of attraction] enemy, Dorcas by killing her [although Dorcas is killed by Joe himself but Violet also had some motives in this regard] and spoiling her face. Dorcas is compared to the Eve of Youth who lures Adam to eat the forbidden fruit of lust and the punishment comes as a destruction of their martial paradise. Conclusively, the difference of age sets the novel to its pace.
The Music
Jazz is taken from Jazz, a flourishing musical genre during the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz's musical crust and trough is pierced throughout the novel. Jazz music had the power to seduce the people who made their way from the country to the city. It was sexual in nature, causing its listeners to melt from their human identity. Alice Manfred interprets Jazz music as an anthem of hell. It is no surprise that Joe killed (his) youthful Dorcas when a Jazz tone was being played in loud. Thus Jazz music in Jazz novel holds a significant point to boil the blood of many untraced identities.
The Untraced Identities
Speaking of untraced identities, Joe, Golden and Violet are some characters, who remain busy in finding out who they are and creating and maintaining their identities. Joe Trace, at first, is identified as a hunter during his childhood. But this identity is merely known as a skill and a bargain with a businessman. He marries with Violet trace to form an identity of a husband but he still remains anxious about one thing. Who is he? Who are his parents? He tries to find his trace of motherhood in Wild but she is unable to recognize him as [her] son. He starts his love affair with Dorcas not because he wants to enjoy her physical beauty but for the establishment of his new identity [as a lover].
Violet is also leading a traceless life just like her husband does but she develops her identity as a wife which is somewhat stained by her want of being a mother. She is unable to beget a child. When she hears about her husband's love affair with Dorcas, she grows furious because she might accepted her as her daughter, not as her sister-wife (sotan). Manifestly, the identity crisis of Joe and Violet make them commit many good and bad deeds.
The Race
Jazz is a musical juxtaposition of the misery of African-Americans. They were treated beyond slaves in the South but the black colour made them an object of racism. They migrated to the North but they were subjected to serve to its Geography. Out of the identity crisis, it made them commit gross crimes like adultery and murder in the intoxicating atmosphere of Jazz music. In this novel, the race is presented as a cause of division and destruction with Jazzy wine.
Conclusion
Jazz by Toni Morrison mainly highlights the suffering of African Americans and their quest to be identifiable as a noble race of mankind through the musical theme of age.
