Recitatif

The orchard is the place beyond the orphanage where the older girls gather to play music and dance. It's a liminal space. There are no adults (Bozos) in control, only the girls themselves. Of course, it's the older girls (the gar girls) in control; there they can smoke, play music, and dance. The girls are not afraid to express themselves in the orchard and are free from the restrictions of the orphanage. Twyla and Roberta are drawn to this space, even though the gar girls have made it clear they don't belong. If they get caught, the girls will beat them. Thus, it is also a place of trespass and violence. Further, it's where Maggie is attacked, and it's where Twyla and Roberta feel the violent urge to attack Maggie as well. The apple trees in the orchard allude as well to the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden. The orchard represents not just life but also death and the fall from grace.

This space haunts Twyla's dreams, although she can't quite explain why it's so significant to her. Though she fears the gar girls, she also is attracted to the bond that they have.