The Anti-Plague
A lot of things stood out to me when reading Mumbo Jumbo . The storytelling, plot lines, and general atmosphere of the novel all became a flurry of confusing thoughts as I progressed into the novel. The one thing that seemed to be at the center of it all was Jes Grew, manifested as an unknown virus spreading across America, influencing people to listen to music and dance and generally, have a good time. Ishmael Reed constantly describes instances of Jes Grew but never really provides a definition for it. So, what really is Jes Grew? Does Jes Grew even have a definition? Jes Grew seems to have no creator. It springs up out of nowhere and spreads like a wildfire throughout society, seeping into every crevice and nook. This unknown phenomenon seems to often manifests itself as entertainment, such as the growth of jazz music and dance culture seen in the novel. Another characteristic of Jes Grew is that it seems to invite competition. The existence of Jes Grew often incites fear of this n...