Gender, Race and Feminism as the Major Issues in the Works of Toni Morrinson: A Critical Appraisal

Asim

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2020.v02i02.77194

Gender, Race and Feminism as the Major Issues in the Works of Toni Morrinson: A Critical Appraisal

Author(s)	Dr. Asim
Country	India
Abstract	Toni Morrison is significant within American literary canon since her work constantly analyzes and examines the complex dynamics of race, gender, memory, power, and violence. Morrison's novels do not approach race as a secondary element of the plot or view gender as a secondary aspect of social life; rather, her stories demonstrate the impact of both racism, sexism, and social hierarchy on Black life in America. The present study discusses Morrison's representation of gender, race, and feminism in her major novels: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, and Beloved. At the same time, this essay takes into account Morrison's literary critical works, such as Playing in the Dark. It will be claimed that her fiction should be analyzed and assessed using Black feminism and womanism perspectives instead of liberal feminism approaches. Women in Morrison's stories defy oppression, rape, domesticity, racial discrimination, and cultural oppression; however, instead of portraying victims and empowered individuals, Morrison creates a literary world where the fragmented identity is restored through memory, language, family, and community. The success of Morrison is not only due to the issues she writes about, but also because of the manner in which she tells her story, with the use of polyphonic writing, myths, non-linear narrative structures, and vernacular language. In essence, racism, gender issues, and feminism are not just subjects that Morrison writes about.
Keywords	Toni Morrison, race, gender, feminism, womanism, Black feminist criticism, African American literature
Published In	Volume 2, Issue 2, March-April 2020
Published On	2020-03-07
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2020.v02i02.77194

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Gender, Race and Feminism as the Major Issues in the Works of Toni Morrinson: A Critical Appraisal

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