Cane by Jean Toomer is a unique work that defies categorization, blending poetry with prose in a modernist style that captivates readers. The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on the lives of black men and women in different settings, exploring themes of race, emotions, and landscapes. Part 1 is set in rural Georgia, painting a grim picture of religious obsession, fear, and bigotry, with a focus on women's experiences. Part 2 shifts to the north and the city, delving into the Jazz Age and the lives of men through dialogue and stream of consciousness. Part 3 takes the form of a play centered around the character of Ralph Kabnis, bringing the narrative back to its origins in Georgia.

Characters:

Characters primarily focus on the lives and struggles of women, with men depicted in relation to their emotional experiences and societal challenges.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is modernist and lyrical, combining prose poetry with dramatic elements, evoking the oral storytelling tradition.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is a combination of poems, stories, and a play reflecting the African American experience, structured circularly from the South to the North.

Setting:

The setting transitions from rural Georgia to urban Northern cities, highlighting differing experiences across regions.

Pacing:

The pacing varies significantly between lyrical, reflective southern narratives and faster-paced, more urban dialogues.

Becky had one Negro son. Who gave it to her? Damn buck nigger, said the white folks’ mouths. She wouldnt tell. Common, God-forsaken, insane white shameless wench, said the white folks’ mouths. Her eye...

Notes:

Cane by Jean Toomer was published in 1923 and is considered one of the first important works of the Harlem Renaissance.

The book is a mix of poetry, prose, and play-like dialogues, challenging traditional narrative structure.

It is divided into three parts, each exploring the lives of African Americans in the rural South and the urban North.

Part 1 depicts a grim, southern gothic world in rural Georgia, focusing on themes of suffering, bigotry, and the lives of women.

Part 2 shifts to the Jazz Age in the North, capturing the faster-paced lives of men and the complexities of urban race relations.

Part 3 uses a play format and centers on a northern character teaching in Georgia, returning the narrative to the South.

The poems within the book serve to bridge the different pieces of the narrative, often reflecting on race and identity.

Toomer's writing style combines lyrical prose with modernist techniques, making it both poetic and experimental.

The book's overall tone is somber, but it possesses a haunting beauty that resonates deeply with readers.

Despite its significance, Toomer expressed discomfort with the label 'Harlem Renaissance' and preferred not to be defined by race.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Cane includes themes of violence, racial conflict, and emotional distress, which may be challenging for some readers.

Has Romance?

While there are romantic undertones and themes, they are interwoven with deeper social issues rather than being the primary focus.

From The Publisher:

"Cane . . . exerted a powerful influence over the Harlem Renaissance"-The New York Times

Cane is a collection of short stories, poems, and dramas, written by Harlem Renaissance author Jean Toomer in 1923. The stories focus around African-American culture in both the North and the South during times when racism and Jim Crow laws still abounded. Vignettes of the lives of various African-American characters tell what it was like to live both in the rural areas of Georgia and the urban streets of the northern cities.

The book was heralded as an influential part of the Harlem Renaissance and, at the time, influenced artists of every background. Authors, dramatists, and even jazz musicians could find influence and inspiration in the pages of Cane's work. Both Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes themselves visited Sparta, Georgia, after reading Toomer's work.

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About the Author:

Jean Toomer (1894-1967) was born in Washington, D.C., the son of educated blacks of Creole stock. Literature was his first love and he regularly contributed avant garde poetry and short stories to such magazines as Dial, Broom, Secession, Double Dealer, and…

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Cane

Jean Toomer