"Too much"

In Praisesong for the Widow by Paule Marshall, Avey keeps muttering the phrase “Too much” on page 145. There are many possible meanings for her constant refrain of this phrase. “Too much” could be referring to the amount of work it would have taken to maintain her relationship, culture, and sense of self with Jay while also moving upwards economically. At first she believes that the effort would have been “too much,” but then she realizes that with vigilance, strength, and distance of her mind and heart from the society she and Jay move into she could have been like Aunt Cuney’s grandmother: “Her body she always usta say might be in Tatem but her mind, her mind was long gone with the Ibos…(39)” Avey and Jay could have maintained their culture in their mind while living in safer circumstances. “Too much” can also mean excesses in the form of money, success, and quantity (as opposed to quality). “Too much” struggle to resist the temptations of a material society and “too much” strength require. The phrase can also mean “too much” want; they wanted too much and therefore they gave up too much. They also could have had “too much” in the form of expectations for their future.

Jessica von Fremd