January 3rd Worldbuilding in Toni Morrison Novels
Sula and Jazz both begin on January 3rd.
On this day last year,
posted a memorable picture of Sula by Toni Morrison on Bookstagram. His caption simply read “January 3rd.”Reggie’s post directly references National Suicide Day in Sula, a holiday invented by the character Shadrack. It takes place every January 3rd.1 Typically the only celebrant, Shadrack parades solo through The Bottom with a bell while making a strange PSA: that residents can choose death if they want to. (Shadrack is a WWI veteran suffering from PTSD.)
Jazz by Toni Morrison Opens on January 3rd, Too
I read Jazz for the first time last year with The Stacks Podcast Bookclub hosted by
. January 3rd appears prominently in Jazz’s first chapter2 as the day Violet attempts to desecrate a young woman’s corpse at a funeral. That young woman is Dorcas, her husband’s former lover, whom he murdered. Violet’s actions at the funeral are a public spectacle. So is Shadrack’s annual parade through The Bottom.Circumstantially, Jazz’s January 3rd Has Much in Common with Sula’s.
Both dates involve:
an ostracized community member, Violet and Shadrack, respectively
a community ritual for death, Dorcas’ funeral and Shadrack’s parade
an entire community bearing witness, Harlem and The Bottom
Book Quotes:
Let the January 3rd Research Begin
I have yet to finish all of Toni Morrison’s catalog, something I hope to do this year. I’m curious if there will be more January 3rds in her stories, but even if it turns out that just Jazz and Sula have January 3rds, I’m interested in finding out if there is information on how (and why) this date became important to these two worlds Morrison built.
“Except for World War II, nothing ever interfered with the celebration of National Suicide Day. It had taken place every January third since 1920...”
- Sula, “1919,” p 7
“Proof of this being Violet’s outright attack on the very subject of a funeral ceremony. Barely three days into 1926.”
- Jazz by Toni Morrison, p 9
You’re so good.