To understand the culture of a new area, one must first understand the land that surrounds them and the symbolism that comes with it. This is where mapping comes in. In Toomer’s novel, Cane, African Americans travel from the south to the north where everything is a stark contrast. It is uncharted territory (Pg 152). This is how Toomer establishes the Great Migration in his novel as they go to an unknown territory in Part II of Cane. Part I is in the south where the landscape is described in a beautiful, serene setting. However, as they move to the North, away from what they know and to a place that they view as opportunity, they realize this uncharted territory for African Americans was not as hospitable as they thought. The North was originally symbolized a new beginning, but now it is a place of discrimination, hardship, and isolation. Industry surrounds them with no open space for them to roam in and it seems as if they are always on display for the white population to judge. In the North, they have to do whatever they can to survive; even if it means stooping to the lowest level and giving up certain values. The South represents community and the beauty of life. When Toomer describes the South, it is in a beautiful, deep, colorful place; a stark contrast to the gloomy, gray North. It is where there is light at the end of the tunnel, what they know, and people always surround them. In the North, it seems as though the people look right past them or are putting them on display, but in the south there is always someone near that is going through the same hardships, but they know they are never alone. Mapping the way from the south to the north proves how not everything is as it seems. The North was supposed to be a place of opportunity, but turned into a desolate, isolated place and their want to return to the south where their culture started grows stronger.
English Majors Practising Criticism