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What content is in this book? What Themes?

Mallory This book has some subtle sexual content. Several prostitutes and escorts are alluded to throughout the stories. There is also a decent amount of viol…moreThis book has some subtle sexual content. Several prostitutes and escorts are alluded to throughout the stories. There is also a decent amount of violence in the form of lynchings in the third section of the book, always told as retrospective stories by the characters.

I think, in essence, the theme of the book has to do with boundaries. Black vs. White, Sexuality vs. Chastity, North vs. South, Urban vs. Rural, Religion vs. Secularism, Male vs. Female.

Jean Toomer was bi-racial and raised by the black side of his family in Washington, DC. He was educated before going to Georgia to be a principal. Shortly after this book was published, he began 'passing' as white. Knowing these things about the author, I think, make for reading his interpretations of boundaries more interesting. (less)

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