Narrative Structures in Zadie Smiths White Teeth and Toni Morrisons B

Narrative Structures in Zadie Smiths White Teeth and Toni Morrisons Beloved The novels White Teeth by Zadie Smith and Beloved by Toni Morrisonboth explore many distinct issues. However, a principle theme thatappears to be common in both is the way in which the past influencesthe present profoundly and both authors use the history grammatical constructionsof the books to present this idea to the reader. The exploration ofthe relationships between characters through time, the past hauntingthe present and the way in which history and culture is revealedthrough the past argon outstanding devices used to show the emotions andfurther the plot. Each author does this in a very different way thoughand this is the power of the narrative structure and the way in whichit can be used in a variety of different manners in order to achieve a confusable effect.The narrative structure of White Teeth is very logical. The novel isdivided decisively into sections in order to present the reader withth e emotions and views of the main characters. The four sectionsArchie 1974, 1945, Samad 1984, 1857, Irie 1990, 1907 and Magid,Millat and Marcus 1992, 1999 provide the reader with a clear cutstructure to the novel, with the past and present accuratelyintertwined. The separate books in the novel help the reader tounderstand how each character feels rough the others, and thereforeexplores their relationships between time. The main example of this isthe fact the Archie and Samad have been best friends since the SecondWorld War. However, their friendship is based on a lie that Archiekilled a Nazi scientist who was helping to develop the Master Race.The separate books help the reader to understand this and the... ... way in which mistakes and horrific eventscan consume the mind. Two novels, which originally appear to be aboutthe struggle of races and racism in society are in fact also about theimportance of time. Smith writes at the beginning of the novelWhats past is prologue from The Tempest perhaps suggesting thatthe novel is in fact based upon the idea that the past and the presentare essentially intertwined and play an important role in modern daylife.The way in which the past can haunt the present, have a negative andpositive influence on the way in which characters react and the plotdevelops in both White Teeth and Beloved. It is an essentialelement of both novels which helps to create a layered structure andgive perspicaciousness to the plot so that the events of the present have a pasta basis which creates a more profound effect of the reader.