Middle Passage

Charles Johnson’s Middle Passage has been a very enjoyable novel for the most part so far. There are parts that truly shock and or disgust, but they do great things for the novel, and keep the reader craving more. For the most part though, I’d have to say I’ve enjoyed the writing style more than the actually story at this point.

Middle Passage is beautifully written. I really enjoy the way Johnson constructs his sentences as well as all the words he chooses. Every single part of the book seems to be handpicked, after a long process of thought and consideration. All the words flow so smoothly it is simply a pleasure to read them no matter what they say. Not to mention how spectacular the descriptions are. They not only give you a picture, put a precise mood, and feeling.

Also, many of the ideas brought up throughout the novel are great. I especially enjoyed the part where Rutherford is talking to Falcon in his cabin, and Falcon brings up the idea that to think, we must be separate. “Man is the problem, Mr. Calhoun. Not just gents, but women as well, anythin’ capable of thought,” (pg. 96) was such a pleasure to read because it brought up something so wonderful to think about. It is true that our thoughts set us all apart, but what of those with the same thoughts? Are we still separate if we think the same on one topic or another? Falcon’s idea may be wrong as it may actually be the topic of a conversation or debate rather than the thoughts involved that separate us all.

As for the story, I’m not so sure I entirely understand the point of certain parts and characters. I suppose that many of the characters will have important roles as the story progresses, but for now I’m really not entirely sure what to make of them. For example, Tommy O’Toole is a boy I can see has some functioning part in the book, but he seems so minor, I really don’t understand what the point of his presence is. I suppose it could be to expand on understanding Falcon as a person, but other than that I’m lost as to why he is there. This is the same with certain passages, which I’m sure are also there for a reason, even if it is only to keep the book moving, but much of the time I feel the need to skip over these parts or only read them because of how well I believe they are written. As Johnson’s words seem so carefully selected though, I’m sure that it is the same for many of these characters and parts. Johnson does not seem one who would put anything down without a reason.

The Alluseri god is something in Middle Passage I find myself very borderline about. I’m hoping that when they open the crate, the prized object will instead be an exotic animal, as for me the idea of having a god locked up seems too far fetched. Much of what I like about this book has to do with the fact that is was somewhat historically accurate, and though I see how making up an African tribe would help, I really don’t think a god does anything for the novel. All the god does at this point is make the story extremely unbelievable for me, and although I do like the fantasy genre, in a story like this it is simply over the line to have something like that. The idea of having a god in the crate reflects the Alluseri brilliantly though as it binds them to a sense of being untouchable or almost unearthly themselves.

All and all, Middle Passage is certainly my favorite novel we read as a class this year. It may have to do with my interest in the slave trade, but as so far I don’t feel Johnson has focused too much on that aspect, I suppose the novel as a whole has caught my interest.