Bonjour. My name is Mr. L'maive. I'm from Western France. You will rarely find me writing on this blog, but I reassure that when I do, it will be quite interesting. Today, I will be delving into the power of the motif. Let's begin.
Motifs tie a story together. Similar to themes, which construct the general morals of the story, motifs emphasize different symbols that hold a place in the artist's heart.
A motif is a reoccurring idea that helps establish the artist's work and emphasize his/her beliefs, concerns, predictions, etc. The reason motifs are widely utilized by successful artists (like philosopher Sophocles, rapper Kendrick Lamar, and writer Toni Morrison) is because motifs are representative of life itself. As a person develops, different experiences and teachings shape who he/she is, but there is always a consistent idea that, no matter how much the person develops, holds true. It ages like fine wine because it's a truth of life.
Motifs are used across all genres of art because every artist holds a complex truth that is unique to them and their situation in life. For example, in Oedipus the King by Sophocles, there is a motif of free will versus fate. This contrast of what people's actions are really controlled by define not only the story, but also life itself. Oedipus the King aged well because the differing beliefs in what our actions are controlled by is present today. Religious people may lean towards the concept of faith and a higher power guiding people's actions while atheists may believe that humans, and humans only, are in control of their actions. Obviously this is a spectrum because faith and free will don't have to contradict each other. For example, from my analysis of Oedipus the King, I firmly believe that fate is derived from free will in that story. The actions, experience, personality, temperament, and teachings firmly solidify fate. Oedipus was rash, hot tempered, and lacking introspection: "I pity you children" (line 66) and "a champion of my country and the God" (line 165) highlight his pride. While there is a clear role for fate, "god will decide whether we prosper or remain in sorrow" (line 176), it's also clear that Oedipus's flaws did not permit him to consider any constructive criticism, "you blame my temper but you do not see your own that lives within you" (line 377). His traits blind him. These tragic flaws ultimately led to his down fall and that's how the prophecy is fulfilled. In my opinion, people are primarily acting on free will and fate (if it exits) doesn't determine people's lives; people's actions determine their fate. So, it's quite clear that a lot of meaning and discussion can be packed into a motif.
Motifs don't always have to be universal truths; in some art, it can be expressive of an artist's distinct situation. However, the artist's pain, thoughts, meaning, etc. usually has a lot of universal content that can be derived. Let's dissect Kendrick Lamar's album, To Pimp a Butterfly, to find some motifs. The short poem "I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence. Sometimes I did the same, abusing my power, full of resentment" (which was repeated after almost every song in the album excluding "Wesley's Theory") is a reoccurring motif. This is an introspective (recommended for viewing) lens into how Kendrick views fame and money's impact on his personal life. Kendrick is split in two in this short poem: his old and current counterpart. When fame first struck Kendrick, he misused his influence, giving into the toxic sub-genre of rap that emphasizes on masculinity, money, violence, and drugs. Present day Kendrick (or at least the on in 2015) has strayed from that content but still finds himself basking in arrogance (whether it be excessive purchases or personal pride). While still sinful, Kendrick believes himself to be on the right path. Listeners get a glimpse of Kendrick's galvanizing mind in these very concise reoccurring sentences. This motif, which is specific to Kendrick's struggle with dealing with fame, can be expanded much further. Ultimately, the morality behind this short poem is that people's ethics and virtues should not be so easily swayed by the changing factors in their life. Thus, once again, the power of the motif is immeasurable.
Motifs can also convey a coping mechanism for artists. In Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, the color red is used to signify the painful and detrimental memories and lies that shape the characters. For example, "when the dead doctor’s daughter saw Mr. Smith emerge as promptly as he had promised from behind the cupola, his wide blue silk wings curved forward around his chest, she dropped her covered peck basket, spilling red velvet rose petals" signifies the daughter's shock as the incestual event would forever scare her view of family (page 13). The daughter cannot handle the sight and this leaves a damaging mark on her and those around her. The color red here represents the destructive shock the daughter had to endure. "She just kept digging. Some of the stems began to sprout heads, bloody red heads that bobbed over and touched her back" shows the disturbing scene where Milkman watches garden petals sensually touch his mother (page 99). The color red signifies the anguish and repulsiveness Milkman feels during his dream, which are representative of his reality. Red serves as a hidden element of the person here. An element that should not be revealed between a mother and her son. "It startled one of the sympathetic winos in the vestibule and he dropped his bottle, spurting emerald glass and jungle-red wine everywhere" shows the loss of hope for Hagar after her shopping spree (page 282). Hagar realizes that no matter how hard she tries, Milkman will not love her. The color red keeps on reminding her of that no matter where she went. She could not escape from it at all. The color red symbolizes suicide in this scene. The motif of the color red in Song of Solomon is a representation of the bleak (recommended for reading) and disturbing human nature.
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