When they fall in love with a city it is for forever. As though there never was a time when they didn't love it. The minute they arrive at the train station or get off the ferry and glimpse the wide streets and the wasteful lamps lighting them, they know they are born for it. There, in a city, they are not so much new as themselves, their stronger, riskier selves. And in the beginning when they first arrive, and twenty years later when they and the city have grown up, they love that part of themselvers so much they forget what loving other people was like - if they ever knew, that is.
In Toni Morrison's "Jazz," the profound bond between a person and a city is beautifully depicted. The moment a person arrives, whether by train or ferry, they recognize an instant connection, as if they were destined to be part of that environment. The wide streets and illuminating lamps evoke a sense of belonging, transforming them into their more authentic selves. This relationship is not just about place but about identity, as the city allows one to embrace a more daring and liberated version of themselves.
As time passes, the love for the city deepens, transcending the notion of mere affection for any other person. The individual grows alongside the city, and this bond becomes so profound that it eclipses earlier relationships, leading to a sense of forgetting what it meant to love others. Morrison captures how a city can become an integral part of one's identity, showcasing the lasting impact that a place can have on a person’s emotional landscape.
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