Conversely, Joe channels his sense of family into his work as a cosmetics salesman and later into his affection for Dorcas. Dorcas becomes a stand-in for both the young mother who left him (symbolically named "Wild") and the spirited Violet, whom he fell for after a mishap in which he tumbled from a tree and landed on her in his youth. Joe remains haunted by the rejection he faced in his childhood. Growing up without a father, he chose a name that mirrored his uncertain family connections: since the family that raised him said his mother vanished "without a trace," Joe decided to call himself "Trace."

In Jazz, much like in Song of Solomon (1977; see separate entry), Morrison delves into the origins of names for individuals who had been regarded as property during the era of slavery. Additionally, Joe undertook three separate quests to find his mother, one occurring after he was married. He ventured into the forests of Virginia and discovered Wild's den, which showed signs of being lived in—"But where is she?" Joe remains oblivious to the fact that the signs indicate Wild's partner is Golden Gray, the captivating mulatto youth whose tales, as recounted by True Belle, Violet's grandmother, forever altered Violet's view of beauty. These quests underscore the profound emotional wounds Joe carries from his mother's abandonment.