The Critical Life of Toni Morrison Essay Example

Book Critics Award, as well as Janet Kafla in 1977. In the years ahead Morrison went on to win the following awards; Common Wealth, Jefferson Lecture, Medal of Distinguished..., New York Times 10 Best for "A Mercy," Glamour Life Time Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 ("Toni Morrison Facts, Information, Pictures | Encyclopedia.Com Articles About Toni Morrison".).

The Beloved and Its Themes

The “Beloved” a novel written by Toni Morrison was and still is a favorite for most of her audience. Inspired by the experiences in her upbringing, Morrison addresses the devastating and detrimental effects of slavery. One of the evident themes in Toni’s work is the traumatic experiences of slavery as she tries to bring insight into the humiliating and devastating manner under which the slaves were exposed to during the era of captivity. The book journals the life of the protagonist, Sethe. Toni takes her audience with her following Sethe’s life from before the civil war when she was a slave in Kentucky to her life in the Cincinnati Ohio in 1873. Though now she lives as a free woman in Ohio, her memories of her life as a slave, and what she had to endure, imprisons her. She still seems estranged and humiliated by the life she led on the plantation as a child of a slave. During her escape, Sethe delivers her fourth baby. But In an attempt to protect them from the life she was already experiencing, Sethe tries to kill her children opting to rather not return them to slavery. However, one of the children passes, this incident makes Sethe believes that it is the spirit of

her dead child called Beloved, which returns to give her the sense of peace she currently is experiencing ("Beloved Novel By Morrison").

In the book, Toni states, “White people believed that whatever the manners, under every dark skin was a jungle. Swift unnavigable waters, swinging screaming baboons, sleeping snakes, red gums ready for their sweet white blood.”, (Morrison p.234). Toni tries to show how the masters viewed their slaves and hence the harsh in- human treatment. Another theme is communal harmony. Toni tries to show the manner in which each character in the book tries to unite and participate in activities that develop the community. Other characters including Paul D join hands to assist the community to move forward shortly after they attain freedom from their masters. Toni demonstrates the spirit of oneness and togetherness for the benefit of growing better communities and instilling a spirit of development. For example, when Sethe receives her freedom, she becomes self-conscious of the need to take part in developing the Cincinnati community only a few days after her freedom. She is also quoted in the book saying, “Me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow”, (p.322). Other characters including Paul D join hands to assist the community to move forward shortly after they attain freedom from their masters. Toni demonstrates the spirit of oneness and togetherness for the benefit of growing better communities and instilling a spirit of development.

References

1. Morrison, Toni. Beloved: A Novel. New York: Vintage International, 2004. Internet resource.
2. "Toni Morrison Facts, Information, Pictures | Encyclopedia.Com Articles About Toni Morrison". Encyclopedia.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 May 2016.
3. "Beloved Novel By Morrison".
   

Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 May 2016.