Paradise or War

A detailed Summary of Paradise or War

Paradise or War: The Impossibility of Harmonic Separatism

In the search for paradise, many strive to find this idealistic place never knowing what they are looking for. Often, people envision paradise to be a sort of imaginary utopia, with no cares or worries. In reality, though, paradise cannot be a mythical and unreachable place, but somewhere on Earth that lives and breathes perfect harmony. Toni Morrison's first novel since her Nobel Prize entitled Paradise attempts to examine the possibility of Heaven on Earth. "Toni Morrison weaves her latest novel on the loom of a single question: Why do we base our conception of 'paradise' on separation and exclusion?" (Shockley 718). In the work, she also addresses the ever-present issue of separatism between the black and white people in Mississippi and Louisiana, compelling the blacks to establish Ruby, an all black community, can end in a violent attempt to preserve precious heritage. The themes of separation and division are apparent throughout the novel, not only between black and white, but young and old, male and female, and even amongst blacks themselves. Morrison uses these two themes to demonstrate that the e

Pinson, Hermine. "Paradise". America 15 August 1998: 19.

lder's dream of an all black paradise is merely a regression into the world they are so eagerly trying to escape.

The Convent, according to the 8-rocks, is ultimately the one thing that stands between Ruby and a perfect paradise. Unfortunately, it is also the one thing that can bring the demise of Ruby. Forced with the realization that their town is no longer the isolated utopia it was in the beginning, a source of blame for this downfall is needed. Rebellion, graffiti, illegitimate pregnancies, and abuse are just some of the problems that the town now faces. The belief that Ruby is still an immortal town persists, so its citizens sought out to find the evil that is tarnishing their community. "Soon, town residents pinpoint scapegoats for all their ills: five magic-practicing women living in a former convent" (Mulrine 71). For years, the patriarchs that rule the town try to distance themselves from the Convent by never visiting and urging other residents to do the same, hoping that the women would simply leave. Eventually it is discovered not only that townswomen regularly visit the Convent to buy produce, but also that some of its youth have been living there. "For the inhabitants of Ruby, however, the convent, free from male supervision, comes to represent everything that the founding families of Ruby believe to be depraved" (Pinson 20). In a final violent attempt to preserve the Ruby they so desperately desire, the elders decide they have no option but to eliminate the Convent and its residents, resulting in a total regression to the society so revered by the nine original families of Haven. Destroying the Convent and killing, or attempting to kill, the five women inside is a culmination of the intense rage and fury built up from years of attempted preservation of a life that no longer existed. Just like the white men who enslaved their ancestors, the patriarchs of Ruby are willing to divide, manipulate, and even kill to keep the way of life they are accustomed to. As Toni Morrison herself said, "As one grows older, you begin to appreciate stability, the past. You don't like change; these people had wonderful stories to tell about their fathers and their grandfathers and nothing to say about themselves. Nothing to pass on. That is when you freeze history" (Verdelle 79).

Bent, Geoffrey. "Less Than Divine: Toni Morrison's Paradise". The Southern Review

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2021
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History