In “Little Green”, Joni Mitchell uses despairing characterization, hopeful imagery, and selfish characterization in order to show that sometimes people have to make tough decisions even if they don’t want to. In life there are trials that people must go through that are not always the easiest thing to do. Mitchell does this in a very well written manner through out this song.
The first example that shows that people make hard decisions because it’s just a part of life is despairing characterization. Mitchell writes, “There’ll be icicles and birthday clothes/ And sometimes there’ll be sorrow”. Sometimes people will be upset about things and that’s just part of life. Just like Joni is upset because of having to give up her child which is what the song is about. That line from the song is characterizing Joni being sad because of making the tough decision to give up her child. She writes, “You’re sad and you’re sorry, but you’re not ashamed”. This line is talking about Joni being upset about giving up her child because she does not have the money to be able to take care of her. Joni is sad that she has had to give her child up and is sorry, but she is not ashamed because she knows she is making the right choice.
Another example is hopeful imagery that helps give someone who listens a hopeful insight on “Little Green’s” future. “Little Green”, have a happy ending”, this helps to imagine “Little Green”, Joni’s daughter having a good future. Although her mother may have given her up it doesn't mean she can’t have a good life. Also Joni writes, “Call her green and the winters cannot fade her”. This is showing that if you call the daughter by her name she will smile and be ok. The little girl is a strong girl who maybe may not understand the situation yet but is doing well enough to try and make it through. Sometimes making tough decisions is not always the easiest things to do but her daughter’s future will hopefully be better by the decision she made.
Lastly, the final example is selfish characterization which helps to describe “Little Green’s” father. Mitchell writes, “He went to California/Hearing that everything’s warmer there”. He left to go to California just because he liked it there better. He did not really care all that much about his daughter. Joni also writes, “So you write him a letter and say ”her eyes are blue”/ He sends you a poem and she’s lost to you”. This line is telling how Joni writes a letter to the father of “Little Green” about how her eyes are blue. The father then replies back with a poem about how he does not really care about his daughter. Also he writes about how his life is better off with the decision he has made to leave his daughter behind.
Sometimes making tough decisions can be stressful on a person. Joni Mitchell makes one of the toughest decisions of her life when she has chosen to give up her child. She writes the song “Little Green” to describe the situation of what happens. She uses despairing characterization to describe how upset she is about this. Also she uses hopeful imagery to show that there may be a light in this situation and that hopefully her daughter will be alright and understand. Lastly Joni uses selfish characterization to show that the father of “Little Green” was not the best man in the world and how it made it hard for her to deal with the situation because of it. All of these devices help to describe or show how hard and tough a situation or decision can really be.
