Forums

In Toni Morrison’s Recitatif, it is hard to look past the character Maggie, and what she represents. But just as it is important to pay attention to what Maggie’s character brings out in other characters, it is also important to pay attention to the abuse she experiences due to her multiple disabilities. Children in, but not limited to, the U.S. experience abuse from both students and teachers as a form of “discipline.”
In Recitatif, there are details about Maggie that alienate her from Roberta and Twyla, as well as other kids. Roberta and Twyla tease her: “ ‘Can she hear?’… ‘Dummy! Dummy!... Bow legs! Bow legs!’ ” (1404-5). This is the first instance in which the reader learns that Maggie is different. As the story proceeds, the mistreatment gets more severe. Maggie’s ill-treatment then takes physical form: “We didn’t kick her. It was the gar girls…I really wanted them to hurt her” (1415). Here, Roberta confesses she was a bystander as Maggie got beat up, and for some reason, wanted the gar girls to hurt Maggie.
This ever-present idea of the abuse of a special needs girl in Recitatif also exists in today’s society, specifically, for the focus of this argument, in educational settings. As brought forth in Recitatif, kids with disabilities are at risk for bullying by other students. But the kids are not the only people that can be cruel to these vulnerable students. Teachers and teaching assistants also single out disabled students for violent punishment for disciplinary purposes. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “While students with disabilities make up just 14% of the nation’s student population, they represent about 19% of the students who suffer such corporal punishment.” Students like Maggie experience more bullying and abuse from teachers and students because they are more susceptible to being outcast due to their differences.
These types of punishments from both students and teachers can leave special needs children with scarring after-effects and even PTSD. It is important to pay attention to what Morrison is trying to inform her readers about not only racial differences and injustice but also how society reacts and treats people who are different from the rest.

Works Cited

Baym, Nina, and Et. Al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Recitatif by
Toni Morrison. 8th ed. Vol. 2. New York, NY: Norton, 2013. Print.
1865 to the Present (1401-16)

"ACLU: Teachers and Students Abuse Kids with Disabilities | GreatKids." GreatKids.

As I first read Toni Morrison's Recitatif I was immediately interested in the character Maggie, perhaps even more so than the two protagonists Twyla and Roberta. In my opinion Maggie is the character who we learn the least about. When she is mentioned it is as a unique entity, unconnected to anything around her. Furthermore, the style of the literature that is used when referring to Maggie is decidedly more passive than the language in the rest of the short story. This alienates Maggie, as does the fact that she is the only character for which the reader receives no inclination as to her personality, or even who she is. I believe that the fact that she is mute is indicative of her voiceless in the short story, but is also symbolic of the voicelessness of all people with disabilities. Furthermore, the fact that neither Twyla, Roberta, nor anyone else comes to Maggie’s aid indicates the social stigma that often surrounds those with disabilities. I cannot help but wonder whether Maggie would have received defense and support from her peers, if she was accepted by her peers for the unique individual that she was. If they had accepted her, this short story may have had a very different outcome.

I agree with each of the posts above. Toni Morrison's treatment of Maggie's character in "Recitatif" is one that leaves many open questions for the reader. The treatment imposed upon her was cruel, but also realistic. Those with any sort of visible physical disability are unfortunately continuously treated as "othered" or set apart from the norm. This can come in many forms, such as the outright bullying in Morrison's story, or the more subtle discrimination in places in society such as the job market. Those with disabilities are not always granted the same opportunities as those without disabilities. This is a similar theme in the issue of racism. Morrison's treatment of both of these issues is important in this story. Maggie's story is not as elaborated on as the parts of the story pertaining to racial tension, but Maggie's presence is still important. This is shown in the ending of "Recitatif", when the question of what happened to Maggie arises. The return to this subject may be Morrison's way of showing that all discrimination needs to be addressed, whether it is in terms of race, gender, sexuality, or disability. Maggie plays a small but important role in this story, and her presence forces readers to consider multiple forms of discrimination present in society.