This paper is a critical analysis of Joe Turner’s "Come And Gone".
A vision-haunted father and his 11-year-old daughter stop at a boarding house in Pittsburgh on their quest for the mother who had wandered off after her husband had been confined by the mysterious Joe Turner for seven years. The theme of the play is the transformative experience, cleansing, and rebirth of the character of Loomis, a man on a quest, and thus, the emergence of the “shiny man.” This revelation ends the quest of another character, the conjure man Bynum, who has been looking for his messiah, this very “shiny man.”
In a boarding house, where everyone comes and goes (“They the only ones live here now. People come and go.” [Bertha to Loomis], a family is reunited by two forces (an African magician, and a realistic “scout” or “people finder,” both roomers at the place), only to split up again – for the man emerges reborn, becomes independent, and leaves mother and daughter.
Table of Contents
- Title of Text and Author
- Cast of Key Characters
- Setting
- Plotline
- Theme
- Character Analysis: Bynum
Objectives and Key Themes
The play examines the transformative journey of Herald Loomis, a man searching for his lost wife. It explores themes of memory, desire, and the search for identity within the context of the Great Migration and the lingering impact of slavery. It also showcases the complexities of African American culture and the preservation of traditional beliefs in a changing world.
- The transformative journey of Herald Loomis
- Memory and desire as driving forces for characters
- The influence of the past on present experiences
- The search for belonging and identity within African American communities
- The preservation of African tradition in early 20th-century America
Chapter Summaries
- Title of Text and Author: Introduces the play and its author, August Wilson.
- Cast of Key Characters: Provides a list of the main characters in the play, setting the stage for the story.
- Setting: Establishes the time and location of the play, providing context for the characters and their experiences.
- Plotline: Offers a brief overview of the central conflict and narrative arc, introducing the main characters and their motivations.
- Theme: Explores the play's central theme of transformation and rebirth, focusing on Loomis's quest and the emergence of the "shiny man."
- Character Analysis: Bynum: Delves into the character of Bynum, highlighting his role as a traditionalist and a spiritual guide, and his impact on the other characters.
Keywords
Key keywords and concepts include the Great Migration, African American culture, memory, desire, identity, transformation, rebirth, tradition, mysticism, and the "shiny man."
- Quote paper
- Christina Voss (married Lyons) (Author), 2006, Critical Analysis of Joe Turner’s "Come And Gone", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1133007
