Mama Day

Miranda and Bernice’s conversation about the fertility pills reveals another question that the novel continues to ask: what is natural, and who has the right to decide what is natural? The pills also allow Naylor to draw the line between what Miranda is willing to do with her “powers” and what she considers off-limits. Miranda’s insistence that “when it comes, it comes” (73) reveals that she does not consider it her place to interfere with the natural course of things; in fact, she will later reiterate that some things are better off left alone. Interestingly, this quotation sounds like something George would say: it is logical and fatalistic, leaving no room for gray area. This is one of several moments where Naylor compares Miranda and George as characters: they are both logical and level-headed, but in different ways. Whereas Miranda’s idea of logic is to let nature run its course and not worry about what lies beyond our control, George continues to insist on applying models and rules to the natural order, even when it is impossible—and even irresponsible—to do so.

In these pages, readers also witness the comparison of Miranda with another character who has his own brand of “powers”: Dr. Buzzard. This juxtaposition, among others that occur between various “powerful” characters throughout the novel, allows Naylor to illustrate the novel’s theme of ritual, and, more specifically, the idea that rituals can take on many different forms, and one form of ritual is not necessarily any better than another. Whereas Miranda seems to use her powers for good (for example, healing), characters like Dr. Buzzard prefer to use theirs to gain an advantage over others (for example, cheating). However, the narration makes no judgment about the rituals themselves, which becomes another reoccurring idea in the novel and one that Miranda reiterates to George much later: “Ain’t about a right way or a wrong way—just two ways” (485).

Though the narration never makes it explicit, George’s language upon receiving the letter from Willow Springs suggests that the mysterious yellow powder may have had some sort of spellbinding effect on him to lead him to pursue Cocoa, both for the job and for a romantic relationship. Despite being a man of reason, he admits that his decision to hire Cocoa is not logical. Here is an instance of a clash between the worlds of Willow Springs and New York: Miranda’s supernatural abilities have crossed over to the sensible, matter-of-fact realm of business and commerce. It also speaks to Miranda’s power: although reason is supposed to outclass superstition, Mama Day’s supernatural abilities are able to best it. 

This section also introduces another of the novel’s most prominent arguments: the idea that one can never truly leave behind their history and heritage. George’s fortune cookie message, which says “all chickens come home to roost,” is an obvious nod to this (95). George’s fortune shows that regardless of how hard one might try to move away and forget about their past, the past remains a permanent, indelible part of their character. Second, the message also illustrates another way in which the two “worlds” of the novel cross over: the chickens of Willow Springs—perhaps those strutting around Miranda’s yard—have metaphorically managed to find their way into New York City, hundreds of miles away. Finally, the fortune foreshadows George’s eventual trial—and failure—in Miranda’s hen house. Perhaps the message is an early warning to George, who nevertheless fails to heed it, dismissing it as mumbo-jumbo or hoodoo like he does Miranda’s instructions at the end of the novel. But once again, the power of superstition challenges the logic of the “rational” world, forcing readers to question whether or not the supernatural actually exists.