Monday, August 8, 2011
A Perfect Narrator?
Now that many of you have completed the novel, reflect on the book’s narrator, Reesa McMahon. What characteristics does this young narrator add to a story as intense as the events in Mayflower, Florida? List, give an example, and explain two character / personality traits she demonstrates that make her a particularly appropriate guide for us.
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What makes Reesa the perfect narrator for this book? Firstly, she is concerned about what’s happening. On page 178, after she had been sent away, she peered through the air vents so she so she could hear what her father, Luther, and Mr. Jameson were talking about. If she hadn’t cared enough to find out, we might had never know Mr. Jameson wanted Mr. Warren to infiltrate the KKK or that he and Luther were fine-tuning a list of members. So concern and maybe a little curiosity are two personality traits vital to a good narrator. Another important character trait is impartiality. Reesa’s family is from the north so she didn’t grow up believing in Jim Crow standards. This provides a fair, non-bias opinion on the treatment of Blacks, which is necessary for someone telling a story. But a third, perhaps the most important trait, is bravery. All throughout the book Reesa takes an honest look around and speaks her mind, showing true bravery. A perfect example is on page 174 when Randy was openly insulting Blacks and she didn’t sit idly by. She fearlessly picked up a watermelon and threw it at him. So is she the perfect narrator? Well no one is perfect but with compassion, fairness, and courage she’s as close to perfect as someone can be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily when she said “no one is perfect but… …she’s as close to perfect as someone can be.” I thought this was a good description of Reesa in reference to her being the narrator of this book. The only reason I would say she isn’t the perfect narrator is her background. Since she’s from the North, she couldn’t understand the points of view of those from the South. This leaves a small gap in the story as to why the Klan did what they did. (In her defense, in my mind, nothing could justify the horrible things the Klan did.) Even with this gap I believe she gives us an accurate picture of the events that unfolded that year in Florida. One reason is her persistence. This is shown on page 181 when she argues with her mother because her mother doesn’t want her to know all the horrible things happening in Florida (to protect her). Reesa does whatever she can to see Marvin’s murder through to the end. In turn, she is able to tell us the full plot without any jumps in the storyline. Another reason is she is open to saying her feelings. On page 168-169 she openly writes to Vaylie how terrible she feels about the whole mess in Florida but she tries to keep hope. Then on page 247 she lets the audience know how fearful she is for everyone’s sake. Having an open narrator is very important so readers can connect with the characters and the story. Along with many other reasons, I believe being a persistent and open narrator is what makes Reesa the best person to tell this story.
ReplyDeleteReesa McMahon was a great narrator for “Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands”. She contained many characteristics that helped her become the narrator that she was. For one, she was mature. Reesa was only twelve years old during the novel, and personally, I thought she acted twice her age. While describing all of the horrible things that happened to Marvin (page ten), the bombings, and the shootings, Reesa stayed in control of her emotions. She handled those horrible events with her ability to not lose her cool. Reesa was also wise. When you are around a certain group of people with the same opinions for awhile, sometimes you start to believe in what those people also believe in. Reesa was wise enough to stand her ground, and to keep her beliefs strong. For example, on page 174, at May Carol Garnet’s pool party, Randy Jefferson was playing a version of Marco Polo that had some discriminating words instead of Marco and Polo. Reesa became very really mad, and threw a melon right at him. Reesa would always defend someone or something that she cares about, and she would not let anybody convince her otherwise. She would never agree with what the Klan had to say because of what other people wanted her to think. She knew what was wrong, and stuck strongly with her beliefs. That is why Reesa McMahon made a perfect narrator.
ReplyDeleteWhat made Reesa McMahon the perfect narrator for this book? While viewing my peers’ comments, I agree to what 15humphreyg said, “For one, she was mature.” Reesa was very established for being only 12 years of age. She was very polite to others and minded her manners. When some children are angry, their feeling can be quite transparent. However, Reesa kept her feelings to herself. One example of this is on page 38 and continued on page 39. At the beauty parlor, Miz Sooky said some impolite things. Most of what she said upset Reesa. Instead of disagreeing or arguing, though, she just kept her cool. Another characteristic that makes Reesa an outstanding narrator is her bravery. Reesa stood so tall and courageous when Marvin passed on. I would never be able to have seen him in the bed of the truck. Whenever I would think about him it would be an image of his bloody body. She was also brave on page 103 to 104. On these pages J.D. Bowman comes into the showroom for a glass of orange juice. He is outraged and says some pretty cruel words to Reesa. However, Reesa stood her ground and didn’t act like his words were hurtful. Those are my reasons to support my view on why Reesa was the perfect narrator. The bottom line is this--Reesa was able to maintain her calm and composure throughout the story line, thanks to the excellent writing skills of the author, Susan Carol McCarthy!
ReplyDeleteReesa McMahon is an excellent narrator for various reasons. I agree with 15humphreyg when she said, “For one, she was mature.” For the majority of the book Reese was only 12 years of age. Most people at the age are not mature enough to understand what is going on in their world. However, Reesa handled everything very maturely, even when she felt like loosing her cool. Another reason why Reesa is an excellent narrator is because always stays with what she believes. When you at an age like her, you easily start to change your mind about various things. Not once did Reesa ever think that the Klan was right, or people should follow the Jim Crow policy. Like 15humphreyg mentioned, on page 174 Reesa stood up for what she believe. On that particular day in the book, Reesa was at May Carol’s pool party, and her cousin Randy Jefferson Holt III was playing a racist game of Marco Polo. Livid, Reesa took the watermelon and chucked it at him. There is only one reason Reesa isn’t the perfect narrator was because Reesa wasn’t born in the South, she was born in the North. Therefore, she doesn’t understand why the Klan did what they did. I’m not saying that their actions can be justified because they can’t. Also, she didn’t grow up believing in the Jim Crow policy. However, with her lack of understanding the Klan first hand, she still managed to paint vivid pictures, in our minds, of the events that went on throughout the book. Reesa McMahon made an excellent narrator.
ReplyDeleteResa was the perfect narrator of this book for many reasons. The most important was that she was very mature from the beginning (as 15humphreyg said.) Unlike Scout from To Kill a Mocking Bird who learned to be mature throughout the book, Resa was mature form the beginning which helped make her easier to understand. With her being mature also changed the book in many ways, if she hadn’t been mature many thing details, and events would have been left out. However, I have to disagree with 15barberc, although she is from the north, I think that gives her a more neutral outlook on things. For, if she was from the south she may be more racist, and more likely to side with the Klan and give a bias story. Another point that makes her a good narrator is she not an adult. If she was and adult there may have been an unclear picture due to jobs, politics, or money, instead of a child’s innocent, pure opinion of whom the antagonists truly are, which also makes it a much clearer picture.
ReplyDeleteReesa is a great narrator because of two main character traits. She is very intelligent this is shown throughout the book; for example Reesa is aware of all the events in Mayflower, Florida. On page one hundred and fourteen she tells the readers all about the high speed chase between four negroes and eight members of the Ku Klux Klan. Because of this knowledge she can give the reader more insight regarding what has happened. Reesa is also a caring person. This is proven in her intense search for the truth and her nonstop effort to find the culprits that killed Marvin. Reesa does not agree with the bad things that are being done to the blacks in Mayflower. She demonstrates a strong need to fix the wrongs that have happened. Reesa helps her father find the truth. Reesa’s caring and intelligent approach within her narration makes the book more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteReesa was certainly the best person to narrate this story for us. She was always curious, trying to find out information even when she was not supposed to know. This is proven in Ch. 26 when Reesa was told to go help her mother while her father and Luther talked to agent Jameson about the KKK around Mayflower. She snuck around and listened in on their conversation. Her curiosity throughout the book helped us grasp the plot better. The other great quality is that she was unbiased. Since she was raised by Yankee parents, she did not have the same views of African Americans as others from Mayflower. A lot of the citizens were quick to judge and blame the them, when the McMahons were not the same. They saw that they were people just like themselves and that not all of them were bad people. With this in mind, Reesa was always able to tell us how unfairly the African Americans were really being treated. Without these qualities, Reesa would not be nearly as good as a narrator as she was.
ReplyDeleteThere are alot of reasons that make Reesa the perfect narrator for the book. I'll start with the most important. She is a very curios young women. She always wants to know what's going on, and is always concerned for other people. She see's both sides of the story, and understands whats happening. She knows that black people are the same, and need to be treated the same way she does. She knows that the Klan should not be treating black people the way they do. Reesa wants to help black people have equal rights because she knows first hand that they are the same as her, and to have black people treated they way they are is unfair. These things make her the perfect narrator because she's the one that is most important. She see's all of it happening, and has a non-racist opinion.
ReplyDeleteReesa McMahon indeed made a great narrator for, Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands. I agree with the other comments that Reesa was very mature throughout the book. She handled some horrifying situations very well. One situation that I think she handled the best was also one that 15humphreyg mentioned. She brought up the day Marvin was found dead. On page ten where Reesa was explaining what has happened to Marvin, she was able to stay mature about everything that was going on. Even though Reesa was puzzled in the beginning about what was happening, she kept questions on a limit because she knew it was better to stay quiet. Also, I believe Reesa is very courageous. In this novel, Reesa’s life was crazy. She went through so much but she was strong and brave the whole way through.
ReplyDeleteReesa has many great traits that you would want in a narrator for a story, especially one as hard-hitting as this one. Reesa is very passionate about what she believes in. You would not want a narrator that is impartial to how the whole situation plays out. You need somebody with a strong opinion, and it is even better when you have somebody who stands up for what they believe in. On page 174, Reesa hears Randall Holt yell a racial slur. Reesa acts upon it by throwing a watermelon at him. Although this action is childish, it did stop Randall and Reesa's point was made, which was all that she set out to do.
ReplyDeleteAnother great characteristic of Reesa is her desire to be involved. Reesa refuses to be kept in the dark when it comes to the Klan's actions, and she decides to be as active as she can will helping the effort. On page 79, Reesa's father is having a conversation with Mr. Moore and Mr. Marshall. Reesa was sent upstairs so the adults can talk privately, but she continues to listen. When Mr. Marshall asks the name of the waitress at the restaurant, and Doto can't remember, Reesa shouted out who it was, even though she might get in trouble, because she desperately wants to help the case. Reesa does everything in her power to help stop the Klan even if she may suffer for it.
Reesa is without a doubt the perfect narrator for this book. One main reason Reesa is a good narrator is because of her interest in the story and the people in it. Ressa is friends with a bunch of people, many are different races. As readers, we get to see the lives of many different types of people from that time. She is also cautious and very observant. She is keen on picking out things that seem suspicious. Reesa always likes to take on a challenge. She likes to stand up for what she believes in, and she won’t take no for an answer. Reesa also wasn’t afraid to share her feelings. Like 15barberc said, having an open narrator is very important so readers can connect with the characters and the story. Having a very smart, observant, and open narrator makes Reesa
ReplyDeletethe perfect person to tell the story.
Reesa added many great characteristics to an already interesting story. I believe she was a great narrator. Like many of my classmates have alsready stated, Reesa was very mature for her ago. However, in addition to being mature, she was still able to be a kid, and I think that helped make the story even more appealing, becuase it gave us an almost un-biased point of view. Also, becuase she was closer to our age, I believe we could relate easier to what she was feeling. An example of Reesa displaying her maturity is during the time when her father, Robert Carmichael, and Luther were going to steal the Klan’s documents. She showed us how mature she was becuase she was able to almost “keep cool”. Personally, I think that a twelve-year-old might have been freaking out then, kowing what her father was getting into. However, Reesa just sat clamly with her mother and Doto the whole time her father and the others were gone. In order to do this, we also must credit Reesa with being very brave, like many of my peers have also stated already. To face seeing her best friend die, and witness so many of the Ku Klux Klan’s attacks on her town, she would have needed to be incredibly brave. For these reasons, I believe Reesa not only added several great characteristics to the novel, but also made it all the more enjoyable to read.
ReplyDeleteReesa was a good choice for narrator for the story because she was courageous. She’s dealing with things that a normal twelve or thirteen year old could not comprehend which also shows maturity. She showed courage when she wanted to see what had happened in the back of the truck to Marvin. Her first instinct was to help her friend as seen on page 53 “I was trying… I sobbed into the softness of her shoulder trying so hard to save Marvin...I couldn’t get to him.” Reesa shows bravery in her ability to deal with the death of her friend. I agree with Emma when she said that Reesa shows maturity and restraint. In chapter 14 when J.D. Bowman confronts Reesa and calls her names, she maintains her composure while realizing that he was the one that killed Marvin. I liked Reesa as the narrator because it gives you a different perspective on the Klan that you wouldn’t get from an adult.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that Reesa McMahon had added a certain young spark to the story. If the story had been narrated by an older adult, they would have been more one minded about everything, seeing things they only wanted to see. With Reesa as a narrator, you can see a child’s perspective. She wanted to know everything, and not shut herself out like her mother had tried to do. Reesa’s love for Marvin had driven her to dig deeper and deeper into the investigation, and in being a child, she had no idea who these people actually were. The people she saw regularly were involved with her best friend’s murder. She had felt revolted in a sense by what her world actually was. You can see how she finally understood the racism floating around her in chapter 14 on page 104 when J.D. Bowman had called her a “Little Baptist Jew” over the price of orange juice. An adult would, usually, feel out of place to say something if a racist slur occurred, however, in being a child, Reesa was perfectly comfortable in doing so. In chapter 25 on page 174 when May Carol’s cousin Randy decides to play his own version of Marco Polo. He calls out “Nigga!” while the others respond, “Massa?” by throwing a watermelon at him. She doesn’t like to have people she respects disgraced.
ReplyDeleteReesa McMahon was the perfect choice for the narrator in the novel. She adds curiosity and belief to the stories intense events that take place in Mayflower. When Marvin is killed by the Klan, Reesa wonders why they chose Marvin, just like all of the readers. As she finds out what has happened, we find out also! This way, we can feel a connection with Reesa by finding out at the same time and feeling her emotions. Reesa also adds belief to the story. Reesa never gives up hope about giving justice to the KKK who bombed Miami and the Klan that killed Mr. Moore and Marvin. This way, the book does not turn depressing for the readers and we also want to believe in a happy ending. I think that Reesa being a Northerner also makes a connection with the readers. Since we all think prejudism is wrong (well I would hope so) we can relate to Reesa. Reesa was raised in an environment that taught her that hating was wrong, just like us! Reesa was the perfect choice for the narrator in the novel.
ReplyDeleteRessa McMahon was a perfect narrator for “Lay That Trumpet In Your Hands. I agree with 15humphreyg, Ressa was twelve at the time, but
ReplyDeleteacted like an adult throughout the entire book. On page 10 when Warren and Luther bring Marvin back to the McMahon’s, Ressa keeps hold
of her emotions, even though her friend, Marvin, is a bloody mess. Reesa is also very strong, and refuses to let others change her view
on everything that has happened in Florida. In chapter twenty-five(pages 170-175) Reesa gives us a perfect example of her strength. On page one hundred seventy-four, all the boys at May
Carol’s pool party are playing marco polo, but instead they call out Nigga and Massa. Reesa decides that she doesn’t want to hear it, and
won’t be around it. So she stands her ground and throws a watermelon at May Carol’s cousin Randy, the ring leader on the game. Ressa shows
strength, maturity, and wisdom, which makes her the perfect narrator for this book.
Reesa is the perfect narrator for this novel. She gives an interesting perspective that is easy to relate to. With someone as young as Reesa narrating, it gives you the innocent side of the story. Meaning she doesn’t react as strongly as her parents because she doesn’t have prior experience with these traumatic events. For example, on page ten and eleven, when Reesa sees Marvin covered in blood she doesn’t know how to react because she has never seen someone mortally wounded before. Since Reesa is innocent it allows her to tell the story without being overly emotional. Reesa is easy to relate to because she is honest. It's easy to understand her emotions because she expresses them freely. On page 120, Reesa openly says "God doesn’t care what's happening in Florida." This form of honesty help the reader understand what she is going through.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Reesa is a perfect narrator, but she is as close to one as you can get. The thing that puts Reesa above all the other characters in the story is her heart. When someone is suffering in the story, she feels their pain too. Unlike many books I’ve read where the narrator is like a robot with no emotions. I noticed this characteristic on page 91 when she learns of the death of Mrs. Maybelle’s fiancée. This attribute makes the book easier to read, and helps us understand the flow of emotions in the story. Heart is not the only thing that matters in a narrator. For a narrator to be good, they have to know all the details, not just the main events. Reesa’s awareness and bravery makes her the perfect example of this. She always stays to listen in on the adult’s conversations in hope of being able to help, even though she knows she will get in trouble. Another great thing about Reesa is her strong knowledge of right and wrong. She sees the K.K.K for what it really is an evil, corrupt gang of racist criminals. The only thing that I can think of that would make her a better narrator is a bit of humor.
ReplyDeleteReesa as a young narrator gives us mature ,but youth look on the events. Reesa acted a lot more mature than her age, but worded everything just perfectly so we could understand. Her emotions and actions stayed calm when everything around was anything but calm. Reesa also showed another strong characteristic, persistence. She kept trying to push through the bad to find the good. That is something very hard to do at her age. She never gave up. This trait shows that she is mentally tough. No narrator as 15 Baldwine said is perfect but Reesa comes pretty dang close because of her maturity and persistence. She is a great narrator and a awesome role model for our age group!
ReplyDeleteI as well agree that Reesa made a great narrator for this novel. She gave great thoughts and insights throughout the whole book. She worded everything just right so that you could understand it easily. One thing I liked about Ressa is that she was very determined. Even at the hardest times, even when she was questioning if God even cared about her, she never gave up. I agree with 15georgec, she was indeed very mentally tough and mature. She was a very good narrator for our age group because, even though she did act mature, she was still a teenager and I think that appealed more to us. That is what made Reesa McMahon an ideal narrator for us.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes Reesa such a great narrator is the fact that she has what no one else in her world has; innocence. This innocence is what enables Reesa to make such accurate, unbiased observations about her world. Although Reesa idealizes her father, he has seen too much hate and injustice to provide a truly fair and balanced opinion.This is exemplified when Reesa's father breaks into the Klan's headquarters to steal the record books. Reesa also has an idealistic nature which prevents her from sacrificing her moral integrity even for the greater good whearas Mr. McMahon is able to get his hands a little dirty in order to stop the klan.
ReplyDeleteIf I were given the decision to decide a narrator for this novel, I would pick Reesa, this is how much I support the idea of her being a narrator. On this blog question though I completely agree with Trevor Grode on the fact that Reesa is such a good narrator due to her innocence, which gives her a view of the events going on around her in a moral intergrity sense of fashion. That you might not get from Ren, or Soto. I also think what makes Reesa such a good narrator, is the questions she poses throughout the book, I think these questions really challenge the reader to think, and it gives you the perspective of what it was like for someone of Reesas age ideas.
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