The Creative Reader

In her interview, Tony Morrison discusses one of her techniques to describe her characters (minute 14). She limits the details she uses, to allow the reader's imagination to flow and construct its own imagery. Although oblivious to this method, I enjoyed forming specific physical characteristics on my own. As Morrison explains, when she leaves the creativity of the character to the reader, "he or she owns it" (14:14).

In The Bluest Eye, Morrison illustrates Geradline's personality by simply demonstrating her actions. For instance, "Geraldine did not allow her baby, Junior, to cry" (87). We see her characteristic reactions when she commands Pecola to ""get out," she said, her voice quiet. "You nasty little black bitch. Get out of my house"" (92). With this simple statement, a complete figure blossoms in my imagination. She reminds me somewhat of Harry Potter's Professor Dolores Umbridge. Her cat obsession, coupled with a sterile personality and explosive, bizarre reactions dapple her with pure maliciousness. I loathed her each time her figure matured in my mind. I enjoyed finishing Winter, because I appreciated Morrison's dexterity in evoking such an intense emotion within me, employing few, expectably insufficient details.