concerns the attitude of the narrator or character toward the subject matter or the attitude of
the author toward the subject matter. In , we would describe tone through the attitude of the
narrator, Mama., and her tone changes throughout the story. In the opening sentences she is
boastful about how nice the yard looks, but she quickly becomes defensive when she begins
talking about Dee and then compares herself to her, describing herself as a large big-boned
woman with rough, man-working hand. Yet even while she defends her own sense of self, she never
slides into deprecation but maintains a tone of pride: Johnny Carson has much to do to keep up
with my quick and witty tongue. She is compassionate when she speaks about Maggie, but critical
when she speaks about Dee and frequently sarcastic when she speaks to her. However, I think the
author becomes somewhat critical of her narrator when, at the end of the story, she chastises
Dee so severely and shows so little love for her while hugging Maggie close to her. The image is
a harsh onea mother hugging one daughter and, in effect, banishing the other. When Dee says,
You just dont understand to her mother, I believe we hear just a bit of Walkers voice in that
comment for the narrators understanding is not complete; she has no sympathy for the identity
crisis that Dee, along with many other African Americans at this time, was experiencing.
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