A True Story

Content Warning: This section references racism and enslavement.

A frame story, as its name suggests, “frames” the main narrative. In “A True Story,” Aunt Rachel’s story of slavery is preceded and introduced by the short narrative of Misto C sitting on his porch and asking Aunt Rachel about her apparently happy life. The frame narrative serves mostly to cue readers as to how to interpret what follows. Misto C has preconceived notions about Aunt Rachel due to racist stereotypes and the cheerful face she presents to the world. Since the readers are assumed to have the same misconceptions, explicitly invoking Misto C’s misunderstanding asks readers to think twice even before Aunt Rachel takes over the narration. The story does not return to the frame at the narrative’s close, allowing Aunt Rachel to have the final word on her story and challenging readers to linger over and reflect on her narrative.

The use of repetition highlights an important character trait of Aunt Rachel. She begins her narrative describing her mother and how she always said “one word” when frustrated: “I want you to understand dat I wa’n’t bawn in de mash to be fool’ by trash! I’s one o’ de ole Blue Hen’s Chickens, I is!” (592).