Jazz Summary
Description
Here you will find a Jazz summary (Toni Morrison's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Jazz Summary Overview
At the heart of the narrative is a strained love triangle involving Violet, Joe, and Dorcas. Violet and Joe, a discontented married pair, share an apartment in Harlem when Joe becomes smitten with Dorcas, a girl of just seventeen. Their affair commences during a sales visit to Dorcas's aunt's place and lasts from October 1925 till the onset of 1926. Unbeknownst to Violet and Alice Manfred, Dorcas's aunt, Joe would meet Dorcas in a vacant apartment borrowed from Malvonne, their upstairs neighbor. Dorcas, however, grows weary of Joe's attentions and starts seeing younger men. When Joe confronts her, she expresses her disdain and urges him to stop bothering her. Despite her harsh words, Joe is unable to forget her, and when he finds her at a party with another man, Acton, he fatally shoots her. Following her death, their affair is revealed, and Violet, in a fit of grief, disfigures Dorcas's face at her funeral. Subsequently, Violet and Alice, bound by their shared loss, start visiting each other, while Joe mourns Dorcas. Eventually, Joe and Violet manage to mend their relationship, thanks in part to their newfound friendship with Felice, Dorcas's best friend. As the story of the love triangle unfolds, the narrator delves into the past, painting a vivid picture of the characters' origins and their interconnected lives that date back to the late 19th century. Violet hails from a poverty-stricken family in Virginia, her mother committed suicide following Violet's father's abandonment, leaving her with her grandmother, True Belle. Joe, an orphan, was raised by a foster family in Virginia. He longed to know his birth mother and even thought he found her in Wild, a local homeless woman, but was left with more questions than answers. Joe and Violet crossed paths in a town named Palestine while working the fields and later relocated to Harlem, referred to as "the City" throughout the narrative. In addition to Joe and Violet's story, the narrator weaves in the tales of secondary characters like Vera Louise Gray and her son Golden Gray, shedding light on the interconnectedness of their lives and experiences. Golden Gray, the biracial son of Vera Louise, a white woman, and Henry LesTroy, a Black slave, was raised by his mother and True Belle. Upon learning the truth about his parentage, Golden Gray decided to confront his father, leading him to cross paths with Wild, who was heavily pregnant with Joe at the time. Following the birth of Joe, Golden Gray decided to stay with Wild in the woods, completely isolated from society. The narrative frequently revisits these stories from Harlem and Virginia, providing further depth through flashbacks and digressions.
section 1
The narrator introduces us to Violet and provides an overview of her story. Violet's husband, Joe Trace, fell obsessively in love with a young girl of eighteen and subsequently killed her. A distraught Violet, in a fit of rage, mutilated the girl's corpse at her funeral. Despite Joe's violent act, he was never prosecuted. The local women's club refused to support Violet after her scandalous behavior at the funeral. Violet tried to make Joe jealous with a new boyfriend, but this attempt failed to evoke a reaction. Instead, she tries to win back his love but their relationship is strained by their shared silence. Soon, Violet takes it upon herself to learn more about her husband's deceased lover. She investigates the girl's past, visiting her schools, emulating her dance moves, and even procures a photograph of her. She and Joe find themselves frequently gazing at the picture in unspoken confusion. In 1926, Violet violently attacked the girl's body. That year was marked by a harsh winter. The residents of her Lenox Avenue apartment made efforts to support each other, men ventured out to find open stores for supplies while women checked on their neighbors. Violet and Joe spent many nights that winter, alternately staring at the photograph of Dorcas. Violet worked as a hairdresser, servicing neighborhood women to earn income while Joe wallowed at home. Violet's preoccupation with Dorcas grew into an obsession, and she began imagining conversations with the deceased girl. She filled her days with work and domestic tasks to suppress her grief. Violet had a history of erratic public behavior, such as refusing to move from the middle of the street until helped by passersby, or walking off with a stranger's baby. Once a vivacious woman, Violet fell into a state of melancholy over the years, occasionally displaying bursts of nonsensical chatter. Joe's initial irritation with Violet's change turned into depression. The story is divided into ten unequal, unnumbered sections, focusing on the aftermath of Violet's attack on Dorcas, and offering a general commentary on life as a woman in New York.
section 2
Joe's affair with Dorcas was a brief one, lasting three months. He can recall every detail of Dorcas's face and demeanor, especially the heart-wrenching day she announced her decision to leave him. Remembering his own marriage to Violet, on the other hand, is a struggle. The key dates and events remain, but the emotions have faded. He first encountered Dorcas while selling cosmetics at Alice Manfred's home, where a group of women had assembled, and was immediately drawn to her. Violet and Joe initially met while they were both laboring in Virginia's fields. Soon after, they decided to move to New York City in 1906, leaving behind the rural life and its challenges. They were among the numerous Black individuals migrating from across the nation, drawn by the lure of the big city and the promise of escaping racism and field labor. The city soon became their home, making it possible to forget their past lives. Two decades later, Joe's marriage to Violet crumbled, leading him to start an affair with Dorcas. He rented a room every week where they could escape, and he opened up about his past. He shared his memories of a dimly lit evening in Virginia, where he had an encounter with a woman he believed was his mother, hiding in the bushes by the riverbank. Dorcas, too, understood Joe's lingering sense of emptiness. She shared her own stories, including a terrifying memory of her house burning down in East St. Louis and her yearning to go to Mexico for a better life. Their shared secrets would unfold in their rented apartment, which belonged to Malvonne, a late-night office cleaner. After their rendezvous, Dorcas would return to Alice Manfred's house and Joe to Violet. The time they spent together usually involved grooming and lovemaking. Joe would always gift Dorcas something at the end of every meeting.
section 3
Malvonne, a night-time cleaner for white business moguls, spends her evenings from six to 2:30 a.m. cleaning office spaces. She raises her nephew, known by various names including "Sweetness," "William Younger," and "Little Caesar," from a young age until he departs for Chicago or San Diego. Following his departure, she discovers a stash of undelivered letters belonging to neighbors in her favorite grocery bag hidden behind his radiator. As a fan of gossip, she reads the letters, sometimes acting upon urgent ones when the addressees are left clueless due to lack of recent information. One such case involves a woman, Winsome Clark, whose husband in Panama still sends money to an old address. Occasionally, Malvonne adds anonymous cuttings to letters she finds scandalously appealing before mailing them. Joe turns up at Malvonne's home one day which initially makes her think he wants to sell her cosmetics. However, he clarifies that he wants to rent her nephew's vacant room while she's at work downtown, offering two dollars a month alongside home repairs. Despite her disapproval of Joe's adulterous ways and her sympathy for Violet, Joe's wife whom she dislikes, she rejects his proposal. Joe attempts to justify his request, claiming he only wants female companionship and conversation. He paints himself as a virtuous man who refrains from gambling, drinking and soliciting prostitutes, lamenting that his wife Violet is more engrossed in her hairdressing and her parrot than him. Reluctantly, Malvonne agrees to Joe's proposal but sets ground rules: she won't act as a message courier or aid in planning their meetings, and pleads with Joe not to get involved with a woman with young kids. Unbeknownst to her, Joe has been meeting Dorcas secretly, especially on Thursdays, a day seemingly reserved for clandestine affairs.
section 4
In 1917, Alice Manfred took in her orphaned niece, Dorcas, after her parents were killed in the East St. Louis riots. Alice took Dorcas to a protest of the riots, instilling in the young girl the deep pain and injustice faced by their community. Rather than expressing her grief, Dorcas immersed herself in her imagination, focusing on her dolls. Alice, disturbed by the violence, attributed it to the influence of contemporary music. Alice found work as a seamstress and Dorcas would spend her afternoons with the Miller sisters, their neighbors. The Millers, religious and discussing the latest fashions and music with Alice, inadvertently introduced Dorcas to a wider world. As she grew older, Dorcas began to explore her independence and sexuality. One night, she and her friend Felice attended a dance where Dorcas was rebuffed by two boys, leaving her hurt. In the subsequent year, Dorcas crossed paths with Joe Trace, a cosmetics salesman. He had been invited to Alice's house for a Civic Daughters event by Sheila, a relative of Alice's tenant Malvonne. As Joe charmed the women with his country charm, Alice became unusually quiet, possibly sensing the future turmoil this encounter would cause.
section 5
In the spring of 1926, several months after Dorcas's death, Alice Manfred awaits a visit from Violet, who, despite her turbulent behavior at the funeral, Alice doesn't mind. Alice begrudgingly opens the door for Violet, the woman whose actions marred the solemnity of Dorcas's funeral. Alice never thought of involving the police in Dorcas's case due to her fear and distrust of the law enforcement, regardless of their race. Post the funeral, she turned more insular, immersing herself in stories of violence against women in newspapers. Despite such atrocities, Alice refused to accept the idea of defenseless women. Yet, she felt deeply betrayed by Joe Trace, a man she had trusted who led her niece astray. Childless Alice and her deceased husband, Louis Manfred, couldn't have kids. Alice was initially startled, then furious and confused when Violet started leaving notes at her door a week after Dorcas's funeral. When Violet visits in February, seeking a place to rest, Alice lets her in. Violet focuses on a photo of Dorcas, captivated. On her next visit, Alice questions Violet about any possible abuse from Joe, which Violet denies. Alice attempts to comprehend the couple’s dynamic, but it makes her uneasy. She hands over Dorcas’s photo to Violet so she'd leave. Violet’s shabby appearance during her next visit annoys Alice, who insists on mending the hems of her dress right away. Alice starts to enjoy Violet's visits, even though she doesn't know why. The two women’s conversations are surprisingly candid and direct. In March, Violet's unannounced visits continue, but Alice starts to recognize her knock. One day, Violet asks Alice if she'd fight for a man. Alice recalls her cheating husband, his mistress clad in white at his funeral, and the revenge she planned but never got to execute, due to his sudden death. Sitting with Violet, Alice realizes that she would have directed her anger at the other woman, given the chance.
section 6
After departing from Alice's home in March, Violet heads to a pharmacy. As she sips on a malt, she reflects on the knife she discovered at the base of her parrot's cage, the same one she wielded at Dorcas's funeral. Despite being fifty, she successfully fended off young ushers when they noticed the weapon until she could disfigure Dorcas. Several men then escorted her out, amidst her protests. Back home, she let her parrot perch on the windowsill, despite its inability to fly. Its constant repetition of "I love you" irritated her, particularly as Joe had been absent since the start of the year, causing his friends to inquire about him. In the drugstore, Violet orders another milkshake, hoping to gain weight. She's tormented by the memories of Joe and Dorcas together and recalls the man she fell in love with back in Virginia. In 1888, her family was stripped of all their possessions, leading her mother, Rose Dear, to become mute. Rose Dear's mother, True Belle, moved from Baltimore to Virginia to assist her daughter. But four years later, Rose Dear committed suicide by jumping into a well, only days before her estranged husband returned, bearing gifts and money. As a teenager, True Belle sent Violet and two of her sisters to pick cotton in Palestine, Virginia due to a bountiful harvest and a shortage of laborers. One night, Violet was startled when Joe Trace fell out of a tree she was sleeping under. He worked at the gin house and often slept in trees. They spoke through the night. When the cotton picking job ended, Violet elected to stay in the nearby town of Tyrell to be near Joe, sending her earnings home with her sisters. Joe, then nineteen and living with his adoptive family, surprised them by choosing to move with Violet to Baltimore thirteen years post-marriage, despite his love for the wilderness. Their impromptu decision to skip Baltimore for New York was even more unexpected. Neither Joe nor Violet initially desired children, and Violet had suffered three miscarriages by the time they left Virginia. However, in her forties, Violet yearned for a child and envisioned her last unborn child. Violet then recalls a moment at Alice's home earlier that day, where Alice mended her coat lining while they sat in comfortable silence sipping tea. She openly wondered whether to stay with Joe or to leave him, but Alice didn't offer a clear answer.
section 7
The spring of 1926 finds Joe Trace in New York City, openly weeping and frequently using the handkerchiefs meticulously washed by his wife, Violet. Joe had remained faithful to Violet until he encountered Dorcas. In the narrator's view, Joe is a man whose emotional growth froze at age sixteen. He still enjoys peppermint sweets and prides himself on not chasing women like the other men he observes on the street. Joe muses that if he had confided in his friends, Stuck or Gistan, about his affair with Dorcas, maybe things would've turned out differently. In a narrative that feels like a courtroom testimony, Joe reveals his first encounter with Dorcas in a candy shop, vowing to keep his secret from his friends as he feels they wouldn't comprehend. He heard her name for the first time at Alice's. The only person he would've confided in was his childhood companion, Victory. Joe was born in 1873 and was adopted by the Williams family, growing up alongside their son, Victory. Aware they weren't related by blood, Joe took on the surname "Trace" due to a misunderstanding of Rhoda Williams' words, in hopes his birth parents would find him. Joe and Victory's youth was marked by their selection by a skilled local hunter to join his expeditions, sparking Joe's love for nature. This was his second identity shift, after taking on the name "Trace". His third transformation was when he met Violet in 1893, in the aftermath of a fire in Vienna. After their marriage, they toiled for five years under a man who kept increasing their debts. Joe experienced his fourth identity shift in 1901, when he purchased his first plot of land, only to lose it unjustly. The couple's relocation to New York City in 1906 marked the fifth shift, followed by a move from Little Africa to Harlem. The couple secured a Lenox Avenue apartment, situating themselves where Black individuals could occupy multiple-room dwellings. Joe found employment in hotels and began selling Cleopatra cosmetics. He cites 1917, the year he was assaulted by white individuals during a riot, as his next transformative moment. The final shift occurred in 1919, when he joyously celebrated the return of Black soldiers from the war. However, by 1925, his happiness was marred as Violet became distant, sleeping with a doll, while Joe grappled with unprecedented loneliness.
section 8
Joe continues to narrate, detailing Dorcas's appearance, complete with her long hair and problematic skin. He reflects on how she requested beauty products to fix her skin issues, but he preferred them to stay put. He saw her blemishes as a map, reminiscent of how he tracked his mother, Wild, in Virginia. This also mirrored his pursuit of Dorcas in the days preceding the party where he shot her. Joe's investigation led him to Dorcas's hairdresser, only to be informed she won't be showing up. This triggered suspicions about a tale Dorcas had spun to dodge their meeting the Saturday before. When he encountered Malvonne later that week, her jovial eyes hinted at something amiss. On finally locating Dorcas, he escorted her to Malvonne's home one final time, during which she uttered painful words. He contemplated the young males on the street, realizing they didn't have to chase women, as women were drawn to them. The day Malvonne's eyes held laughter, Joe bolted to Inwood, their initial meeting spot. Amidst the snow, he reminisced about their first encounter, the shoes she wore, and the peculiar markings on her cheeks. He had confessed to her that she was worth Adam's banishment from Eden and he'd gladly endure it to be with her. The gifts he brought her were countless, and he constantly hoped she'd be happy with them. Their first shared intimate moment in Malvonne's nephew's room marked a beginning for both of them. Joe felt he had selected her and that his love for her elevated him rather than dragging him down.
section 9
In this part, the narrator narrates True Belle's life, Violet's grandmother. She was previously a slave in Virginia, but she left her job at Miss Vera Louise's in Baltimore in 1888 to aid her daughter, Rose Dear, back in Virginia. Rose Dear's husband had given collectors authority to seize all his possessions, leaving the family destitute after he vanished. True Belle worked for Colonel Wordsworth Gray, whose daughter, Vera Louise, got pregnant by a black man. After her parents abandoned her, Vera Louise moved to Baltimore with her slave True Belle, leaving behind her illegitimate child named Golden Gray. Golden learns from True Belle at the age of 18 that his father was a black man named Henry LesTroy in Vienna, Virginia. His mother avoids the topic, but Golden is so enraged he resolves to find and kill his father. On his journey through a powerful storm, he encounters a pregnant black woman who is naked and unconscious. Despite his disgust at her appearance, Golden decides to help her due to her pregnancy. Golden, who grew up under True Belle's care, is bewildered to find out that they both share a black father. His entire perception of his privilege and identity is challenged. He arrives at a simple house which he assumes to be his father's. The house is vacant, and the pregnant woman remains unconscious. Awaiting the return of Henry LesTroy, Golden covers her with a jacket and places her on a cot. He drinks some alcohol he discovers in the house to combat the cold and hunger from the rain. As he hears a horse approaching, he opens the door to find a young black boy.
section 10
A young Black boy of 13 years, tasked with tending to Henry LesTroy's livestock, encounters a elegantly dressed and slightly inebriated Golden Gray. The boy mistakes Gray for a white man, likely present to gather hunting spoils from LesTroy. He informs Gray that LesTroy has been away for a few days and could return any time. Satisfied, Gray realizes that he has found his father's house as if drawn by instinct. He instructs the boy to assist him after his chores and goes inside to change into more formal attire. He ponders about finally meeting his Black father and yearns to feel whole by reconnecting with what he has unknowingly lost. Discovering his father's Black identity had incited rage in Golden Gray, compelling him to destroy his mother's clothes. True Belle advised him to approach his father, a suggestion he heeded. The narrator oscillates between deriding his pretentious behavior and empathizing with his suffering. The anonymous narrator eventually conveys a desire for Gray's self-acceptance. The young boy, accustomed to death, immediately identifies the unconscious woman under the shiny green dress as alive. He carefully removes the clotted blood from her forehead wound without averting his gaze. He fetches her water and demonstrates commanding care while Gray watches, relieved at the boy's presence as he no longer fears the woman reopening her eyes.
section 11
Golden Gray never forgets the sight of the unconscious woman on the cot, especially when he sees a pregnant girl. Thirteen years later, his father, Henry LesTroy, is a prominent figure in the Vienna sugar cane fields, renowned as "Hunters Hunter" for his hunting prowess. When Golden Gray visits his father, Hunters Hunter is initially startled by the sight of an elegant carriage and horse outside his cabin, but calms down on seeing Honor's mule. Honor is a boy who takes care of his farm animals during his absence. His tranquility is disrupted when he finds Honor and Golden Gray by the side of a naked pregnant woman. Golden Gray intensely stares at him and acknowledges him as "Daddy." Hunters Hunter finally realizes why Vera Louise left her father's estate and the existence of his son, Golden Gray. Before the father-son duo can converse, the pregnant woman gives birth with the help of Honor and Hunters Hunter. He names her "Wild" as she bites him in her delirium. Since Wild rejects her newborn son, Hunters Hunter asks Honor's mother to care for the child. Wild remains in the vicinity, haunting the sugar cane fields. Thirteen years later, she surprises Hunters Hunter by tapping his shoulder in the field. Her abandoned child, Joe Trace, grows up with Victory's family. Losing their land, Joe and Victory become transient laborers. Joe feels that Wild is his mother, a notion reinforced by Hunters Hunter. Wanting confirmation, Joe seeks Wild thrice. He locates her dwelling place during his first attempt. His second attempt occurs just before he leaves Vienna for work. He requests her to acknowledge their relationship, but her reaction remains unclear due to the fading light. Joe then immerses himself in work and meets Violet. He remains uncertain if Hunters Hunter stayed in Vienna after the fields are set ablaze and the laborers dispossessed.
section 12
In the early hours of 1926, Joe traces Dorcas's steps, his memories drifting back to his last attempt to locate his mother, Wild. The narration alternates between these two different hunts. Joe fiercely defends his intentions, asserting that he never planned to harm Dorcas when he ventured out with a firearm that New Year's Day. Despite her harsh words, he was certain she didn't mean them and wanted only to find her alone, not surrounded by the charming "roosters" that were ever-present. His mission was merely to find her, and carrying a gun felt like an inherent part of the journey. He navigated the icy streets and took a train to where he anticipated she'd be. In his younger days, after his marriage to Violet but during his stay in Virginia, Joe had sought Wild near the river, hoping she'd give him a sign. A distinct, twisted tree made the location recognizable. Nearby, he discovered a natural hole and ventured inside. Although Wild was missing, he detected the scent of cooking oil and stumbled upon a room filled with discarded furniture and stolen objects, including a green dress from Henry LesTroy's cottage, formerly Vera Louise Gray's. He spent considerable time among these possessions, but Wild remained elusive.
section 13
At a bustling soiree, Dorcas is seen dancing and enjoying herself with a well-liked young man who doesn't consistently shower her with gifts or keep dates, but with whom she shares a unique connection. The joy she experiences with him is unparalleled, and she believes he chose her deliberately from amongst other women. Dorcas expresses her fear that Joe might come searching for her at the party, despite her warning him not to. She hadn't intended to be harsh when she asked him for some space, but her words came out sounding cruel. She had planned to discuss their clandestine relationship and their marriage, not mention Acton, the attractive man she's currently with. She wishes to gossip about her beau with her friends, but when she mentioned Joe in jest to her best friend, Felice, she was met with a displeased expression. Dorcas is certain that Joe will come after her following their conversation, and she remains anxious about spotting him. Keeping the truth from Joe, Dorcas enjoys the recognition and identity she gets with Acton as opposed to Joe's unconditional acceptance. Acton influences her style and helps mold her future self. She relishes being with him and the envy of other women. She is sure that if Joe were to show up, he would learn that she is now Acton's. Suddenly, Dorcas starts recounting her death. While dancing with Acton, she spots Joe and then finds herself hit by a bullet. The world fades in and out as she collapses into Acton's arms. She is laid on a table while people crowd around her. She only sees Acton, preoccupied with a blood stain on his coat. People continuously ask her about her attacker while a woman approaches Acton. At that moment, Felice reaches Dorcas and holds her hand. Dorcas believes she screams Joe's name into Felice's ear. As the room begins to empty, Dorcas identifies the sound of a familiar tune and catches sight of a bowl full of oranges on the table.
section 14
Violet is on her building's porch, hearing young musicians play amidst her husband Joe's tears. She's returned a picture of Dorcas, Joe's former lover, to Alice Manfred, which she thinks may be causing his sorrow. A young girl resembling Dorcas, carrying a record and a delicacy, approaches Violet. This girl, Felice, shares her life story. Raised by her grandmother while her parents worked in Tuxedo, she only saw them every three weeks. Her father enjoyed reading quietly and her mother preferred dancing or church. Her grandmother worried about her friendship with Dorcas, who was obsessed with appearance. Despite occasional quarrels due to their different skin tones, they remained best friends. Felice learned about Dorcas's secret relationship with Joe from gossiping hairdressers. Felice doesn't think Violet is insane, a belief cemented when she visits to search for her mother's stolen opal ring. Dorcas borrowed it to impress Acton, a persistent critic. When Dorcas died, Felice was too upset to attend her funeral. Hearing of Joe's grief, she decided to visit in hopes of comforting him and retrieving her ring. During this visit, Felice reveals that Dorcas chose to bleed out rather than seek medical help, essentially causing her own death. This revelation moves Felice to tears. Invited to stay for dinner, she is told by Violet that she saw the opal ring on Dorcas's hand when she attacked her at the funeral. As they sit for dinner during a second visit, an unexpected client interrupts, leaving Felice and Joe to converse in the living room. Music drifts in, prompting Violet and Joe to dance. Before Felice departs, Violet insists she return for a hair appointment.
section 15
The narrator admits a sense of failure in section 15, having spent so much time observing others that she neglected her own life. She had predicted violence between Joe and Violet, and constantly speculated about the characters' mental states and hardships. She figured history would repeat itself, but the characters proved less predictable than she anticipated. She expresses a desire to retreat to Wild's remote dwelling and converse with the eccentric woman there, face-to-face. Alice Manfred relocated to Springfield, while Felice developed a routine of purchasing records and meat, cautiously navigating the city and avoiding individuals who might exploit or harm her, much like Dorcas. Meanwhile, Joe found employment at a speakeasy, working nights and spending his days with Violet. They shared naps, neighborhood walks, card games, and intimate moments under the covers. In a flashback to 1906, back when they resided in Virginia, Joe had to work in Crossland for two months. One day, Violet returned from fieldwork, cleaned herself, swapped her work clothes for a clean white shift, and fell asleep from fatigue. When Joe came back, he found her sleeping peacefully. Now, they whisper sweet nothings and share secrets under the covers, lost in their love for each other. The narrator ponders about the allure of the city's shadowy corners and the power of music that draw people into passionate, clandestine affairs. She looks on with envy at Joe and Violet's love, which is simultaneously private, secret, public, and ordinary. While they comfortably express their love in public and mundane manners, the narrator has only experienced secretive love, yet yearns to openly express her need and desire for someone.
