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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Troubled About My Soul
Explanation and Analysis:
Tish's tone as narrator is unique and compelling, one of the most memorable features of the book. She is a teenager forced into maturity, a child forced to be a mother without her beloved, and she narrates the novel from this perspective. As a result, her tone moves between the dramatic sass and emotional self-pity of a teenager and the studied understanding and tact of a woman much older than she is.
The contrast between these two tones is central to the novel. Take an example from early in the novel when Tish describes her early relationship with Fonny and complains about how ugly she is: "Well I'm dark and my hair is just plain hair and there is nothing very outstanding about me and not even Fonny bothers to pretend I'm pretty, he just says that pretty girls are a terrible drag." Here Tish takes on the tone of an adolescent girl struggling with self-confidence as she complains about "pretty girls" and how she will never be one. But later in the novel, Tish grows from this vanity and has a more mature, empathetic tone as she comes to accept her circumstances and tries to react well to them. Here she speaks with great empathy about herself, Fonny, and the baby:
It has something to say to me, and I must learn to listen—otherwise, I will not know what to say when it gets here. And Fonny would never forgive me for that. After all, it was I who wanted this baby, more than he. And at a depth beneath and beyond all our troubles, I am very happy.
Here the reader sees Tish's growth and maturity reflected in her tone. Her tone becomes more calm and forward-thinking as she realizes that with her baby, she is happy.
In addition, Tish's tone is full of unqualified disdain for the unjust legal, social, and political structures in America that hurt people like Fonny and Daniel in the novel. She is well aware of the racist structures that prevent her from being with her love, and her tone on these is entirely distinct from the rest of the novel. She calls New York "hell" on multiple occasions (as well as Birmingham, where Sharon is from). This shameful, disparaging tone on the world around her contrasts with the more empathetic and mature tone that she comes to use in regard to her baby and her other relationships. The exception to this is Hayward, whom Tish treats with a tragic tone. Hayward shows "genuine" concern for Fonny but is aware that any attempt to clear his name is likely futile.
Related Themes:
