Thursday, April 18, 2013
Little Cloud and Lady Wind
Toni Morrison’s Little Cloud and Lady Wind narrates the tale of a passive, withdrawn cloud who must allow the wind to prove to him that there is strength in numbers. Little Cloud finds peace and comfort in being alone; when Lady Wind insists that all of the clouds join up because “clouds have to stick together if we want to be strong”, Little Cloud refuses the suggestion and chooses to drift along solo. In isolation, Little Cloud yearns for opportunities that are unavailable to her; consequently, Lady Wind steps in and helps her fulfill her wishes. The kind gesture proves to Little Cloud that sometimes it pays to get by with a little help from your friends.
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The children's novel presents its audience with a fun story that explains how cooperation and teamwork can at times be more beneficial than independence. Published in 2010, the children's book appears to parallel Morrison's earlier work "Song of Solomon", which was published in 1977. The sole difference between the two works are their intended audiences; one is obviously adult fiction while the other appeals to younger individuals. Despite being published decades apart and being geared towards different age groups, both literary pieces deal with issues such as establishing self-identity and finding purpose. Little Cloud is comparable to Milkman Dead because both are introverts who prefer isolation; neither character is willing to leave his comfort zone, although each has the mobility to do so. Their personal preferences hold them back from making positive impacts in their lives. Lady Wind is a child-friendly representation of Guitar Bains because both realize that there is power in being with others and that there is strength in unity. In addition, both must convince and influence their close friends to realize the errors in their ways so that they may achieve their goals by cooperating with others. Transformation is key to the characters in both texts so that they may determine their own values and embrace teamwork.
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