Number 10

Summary
The interview began with Charlie Rose recalling the time Toni Morrison had invited him to the Nobel Award ceremony and his refusal. Followed by a little discussion about how you never regret the things you did, just the things that you didn’t do. Their discussion than turned to Morrison’s newest book, Love and Rose asks her to tell him about it. She explains it as telling the story about the actual complex situation going on during the Civil Rights movement, which she said that is generally over simplified. She wanted to describe the transitions on the black community as the became assimilated into the larger society. Rose than asked about Beloved, mentioning that many have called it her masterpiece. This position she does not agree with, saying instead that she has not yet created her masterpiece. Afterwards, their discussion turned to writing it self with Rose asking about if it has become easier. To her, writing does not become easier with each successive novel, as each is a completely black slate. She also talks about the importance of “bearing-witness” to her characters. Of not making her pain, their pain. The pain and feelings in the novel have to belong to the character. The interview finished with Rose asking Morrison to read a passage from her book. The passage seemed to explain that people spend their entire life attempting to out do the world, to better it in a sense. However, no matter how hard they try the world will always win.
Reaction
Although this is cheating a little bit because we already discussed this is class, however, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the interview has a very casual nature. Although, it was obviously a real interview, the atmosphere was very conversational. Kind of like two people just simply talking. At the same time Rose’s questions were very effective at getting a story. In other the questions were very open ended and lent themselves to elaboration. Furthermore, she brought up needing to talk about the complex lives of the African Americans during the civil rights movement. The points she made sense, that with Martin Luther King and Rosa parks the history that we are generally taught is over simplified.

Reflection
Once can certainly draw connections between this interview and Vogler. While reading Vogler’s book, it is very apparent that creating a human element in a story is of the utmost important. Morrison reiterated this. She talks mostly at the end of the interview is that what people need to do most is to be human. She also talks about bearing witness to her characters. This really struck me as I immediately thought of Elie Wiesel. He is another Nobel Prize Laureate who talks a lot of bearing witness. Mostly conveys the importance of those who had born witness to tell their story. To me drawing this connection to two Nobel Prize winners is very interesting and perhaps important.
Questions
1.) How important does she believe that those who have born witness tell their story.