What’s In a Name?
Push , by Sapphire, tells the horrific tale of Precious Jones, a victim of incest, horrific physical, sexual, and emotional violence who eventually gives birth to two of her father’s children, while searching for a destiny that breaks the vicious cycle of abuse that has left her poverty stricken, homeless and illiterate.
Language and emotion play a pivotal role in Precious’s interpretation of the experiences she has had in her life. Through the intentional lack of structure, grammar, and other basic literary rules, Sapphire allows the reader to become a part of Precious’s innermost thoughts, fears, and regrets.
“I left back when I was twelve because I had a baby for my fahver. That was in 1983. I was out of school for a year. This be my second baby. My daughter got Down Sinder. She’s retarded. I had got left back in the second grade too, when I was seven, “cause I couldn’t read (and I still peed on myself).”(pg.4)
Emotion is another device that Sapphire uses to piece together the memories of cruelty that Precious went through, and hope for the life that she aspires to have, especially regarding her education. Sapphire allows Precious to communicate her feelings in a variety of ways, for example in her journal. Here we see the moving voyage Precious takes as she begins the painful process of recalling memories that have been suppressed, all while beginning her expedition into literacy.
“Ms. Rain say more now, much more. She wan more from me. More than 15 minutes an she write back. Say walk wif it. The journal? I say. Yeah, she says, Walk wif da journl. Everywhere you go, journl journal go. You know I go walk with Abdul etc., take journal, write stuff in journal.”(pg.98)
Precious Jones overcame extraordinary odds and allowed her innate motivation to lead her to a better life for her and her children. Although she can be seen as a compilation of many of the travesties reported to state agencies all over the country, Precious Jones is a survivor.
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