英語(yǔ)畢業(yè)論文=從《寵兒》透視美國(guó)黑人女性的悲劇與成長(zhǎng)

從《寵兒》透視美國(guó)黑人女性的悲劇與成長(zhǎng)TheTragedyandGrowthoftheBlackWomenEmbodiedinBelovedAbstractToniMorrisonistheonlyAfro-AmericanwomanwriterwhowinstheNobelPrizeforliterature,andherworksarewell-knownforvividimages,copiousemotionsandprofoundthoughts.Herworksarealwayspresentedonbehalfoftheblackwomenandfulloftragedies.Ageneralthemegoesthroughallherfictions:thetragiclifeoftheblackpeopleandtheconflictbetweenthewhitecultureandtheblackculture.

InBeloved,Morrisontellspeopleastoryaboutablackslavewomanwhohasatragiclifebutnevergivesupherfaithinself-growth.Throughthedifferentgrowingexperiencesofthreegenerations,thefictionrevealsthehumblepositionoftheblackwomenandtheirdifficultprocessofgrowthundertheoppressionofracismandsexism.OntheonehandMorrisonshowstherealsituationoftheblackwomenfromadistinctpointofview,anddemonstratestheirpainsandsufferings.Ontheotherhand,throughthetragicstoryofBeloved,Morrisonalsoshowspeoplethegreatstrengthandself-growthoftheblackwomen.Althoughthegrowingprocessisfullofdifficulties,theblackwomen,throughtheeffortsofgenerations,finallybuildthemselvesup,andbravelyfacethepresentandthefuture.KeyWordsBlackwomen;discriminationandoppression;tragedy;strength;growth

摘要托尼?莫里森是美國(guó)唯一一位獲得諾貝爾文學(xué)獎(jiǎng)的黑人女性作家，其小說(shuō)以鮮明的形象,豐富的感情和深刻的思想而著名,她的作品總是代表著黑人女性并充滿了悲劇色彩。在她的小說(shuō)中始終可以感受到一個(gè)主題：“美國(guó)黑人命運(yùn)的殘酷，以及白人文化和黑人傳統(tǒng)文化之間的沖突和對(duì)峙?！?/p>

在《寵兒》中，莫瑞森就講述了一個(gè)生活在悲劇中但卻始終不放棄信念的黑人女奴的悲慘故事；通過(guò)三代人不同的成長(zhǎng)經(jīng)歷展現(xiàn)了處于弱勢(shì)地位的黑人婦女在種族主義和性別主義的雙重壓迫下艱難的心路歷程。一方面，莫里森用她獨(dú)特的視角講述黑人婦女真實(shí)的處境，使人們可以強(qiáng)烈深刻地感受到黑人婦女的痛苦經(jīng)歷。另一方面，通過(guò)《寵兒》的悲劇故事，莫里森向人們展示了黑人婦女的力量與自我成長(zhǎng)。盡管成長(zhǎng)的過(guò)程充滿荊棘，但通過(guò)一代又一代的努力，黑人女性最終成長(zhǎng)起來(lái)，開(kāi)始勇敢地面對(duì)現(xiàn)在和未來(lái)。關(guān)鍵詞黑人婦女；歧視和壓迫；悲?。涣α?；成長(zhǎng)

IntroductionToniMorrisonistheonlyAfro-AmericanwomanwriterwhowinstheNobelPrizeforliterature.ItconfirmsherrenownandmakesheroneofthemostinfluentialwritersinAmericahistory.FromTheBluestEyetoLove,eachofherfictionshasexertedvibratinginfluenceupontheliteraryworld.InthefictionsofToniMorrison,thereisadistinctandeternalthemewhichcanbefeltandtouchedclearly:thetragiclifeoftheblackpeopleandtheconflictbetweenthewhitecultureandtheblackculture.

Beloved,afamousfictionbyToniMorrisonin1987whichwinsthe1988PulitzerPrize,bestexemplifiesthethemeandherthoughtsabouttheblacks,especiallytheblackwomen.ThestoryofBelovedcomesfromatrueevent:In1850,MargaretGarner,aKentuckyfugitiveslavewoman,wouldratherchoosedeathforherselfandherchildrenthanbeingreturnedtoslavery.Butsheonlykilledoneandtherestwererecapturedandsold(Zhu144).WhenToniMorrisonheardthisstory,shewasdeeplymovedanddecidedtowritedownit.After10yearsofgestatingand3yearsofwriting,shefinallyfinishedthisgreatwork.Onceitwaspublished,itshookthewholeAmericanliterarycircleandculturalcircle,andwasconsideredamilestoneinthehistoryofAfro-Americans.

Peoplealwaysthinkthattheblackwomenarecoquettish,crude,strongandhumble,andtheycanbearmorepressurethanthewhitewomen.However,Morrisonarguesthattheyarewrong.ThroughherfictionsMorrisonrevealsthattheblackwomenhavethesameemotionjustasotherpeopledo.Morrisonisalwaysproudofherblackstatus.Infact,theblackwomencontributealottoAmerica,andeventothewholeworld,buttheystillcan’tbeacceptedbythesociety.

Actually,peopleknowverylittleabouttheblackwomen,andaboutthetroublestheymetandtherespecttheyshouldgetintheirwork,intheirmarriage,intheircharacterasamother,intheirspirituallifeandtheirbelief.Morrisonalwaystriestoexpresstootherpeoplethatthoughtheblackwomenhaveatragiclifetheynevergiveuptheirfaithinself-growth,andthoughtheirgrowingprocessisfullofdifficulties,theyfinallybuildthemselvesup,andbravelyfacethepresentandthefuture.

I.TheTragedyandGrowthoftheBlackWomenA.TheTragedyoftheBlackWomen

Morrisonchoosesthe124houseonBluestoneRoadinCincinnatiasthesceneofthestory.Thetimeis1873.Althoughitwas18yearsagowhensheescapedfromtheSweetHomeandkilledherdaughter.ItwasstillastrongmemoryinSethe’smind.Atthebeginningofthefiction,itsaidthat“124wasspiteful.Fullofababy’svenom.”But“by1873SetheandherdaughterDenverwereitsonlyvictims.”(Morrison3).Thebabyghostwasalwaysinthehouse.ItspeededtheGrandmother’sdeath,andmadethelittledaughterDenvereccentric.Thewholestorybeginswithamysteriousambience,anditisevenlikeaghoststory.InMorrison’smind,brutalactfromhumanbeingiscruelerthanslaveryitself,soshebitterlyattacksitanddescribestherealsituationofblackslavesintheworld:

Whitepeoplebelievedthatwhateverthemanners,undereverydarkskinwasajungle.Swiftunnavigablewatersswingingscreamingbaboons,sleepingsnakes,redgumsreadyfortheirsweetwhiteblood.Themorecoloredpeoplespenttheirstrengthtryingtoconvincethemhowgentletheywere,howcleverandloving,howhuman,themoretheyusedthemselvesuptopersuadewhitesofsomethingNegroesbelievedcouldnotbequestioned,thedeeperandmoretangledthejunglegrewinside.Thescreamingbaboonlivedundertheirownwhiteskin;theredgumsweretheirown.(Morrison198)

InBeloved,theschoolteacherisatypicalwhiteman;heseemstobeimpartialandobjective.Butwhatheandhisnephewsdidwasreallybrutal:inordertodoso-calledresearch,heusedtogaugetheblackslaves,likethedraughtanimals.OneofthenephewshadnursedSethewhilehisbrotherheldherdown.Thewhitepeopledogoodorevilthingsjustastheylike,andtheblackpeoplehavenochoices,butreceiveall.Withthecomingofthemodernsociety,thescientificanddemocraticspirithasbeenputaroundtheUnitedStates,butnevertheAfrica-Americans.Theghostsoftheblackslavesaretheirrefutableevidence.Morrisononcesaid,herworksarefortheblackpeoplethemselves.Theblackpeopleshouldlovethemselves;especiallytheblackwomenneeddoso.

InBeloved,Sethehastokillherdaughter,andundoubtedlythat’sabigtragedy.Besides,Belovedherselfisatragedytoo.Shecomestothisworldatawrongtime,andiskilledbyhermother.Whenshecomesback,sheistreatedasanevil.AttheendoftheBeloved,Morrisonwrites:

Everybodyknewwhatshewascalled,butnobodyanywhereknewhername.Disrememberedandunaccountedfor,shecannotbelostbecausenooneislookingforher,andeveniftheywere,howcantheycallheriftheyknowhername?Althoughshehasclaim,sheidnotclaimed.Intheplacewherelonggrassopens,thegirlwhowaitedtobelovedandcryshameeruptsintoherseparateparts,tomakeiteasyforthechewinglaughtertoswallowherallaway.(Morrison274)

Althoughthedaughter’snameisBeloved,shenevergetslove.Nobodylovesher,sheisjustconsideredaghost,andeverybodyexpelsher.Infact,theblackwomenareborntobelookeddownupon.Theyarelookeddownuponbythewhitepeople,andevenbysomeblackmale.Soactually,theyarethemosttragicpeopleintheworld.Theyalwayshavetobearthepainsandsufferingsbothfromraceandsexdiscriminationwhichisheavilyimposedonthem.

Theblackwomenarelookeddownuponforthecoloroftheirskinallthetime.AlthoughtheAmericanConstitutionsaysthateveryoneisequalinthesociety.Butinreality,coloredpeople,especiallytheblackwomen,neverhaveequalrightsandrespect.Theyusuallystayatthebottomofthesociety.

InAmericansociety,generally,peopleholdtheideathatonlythewhitepeopleareinthemainstream.TheywouldliketodivideAmericansintoseveralclasses.Ofcoursethewhitepeoplearethefirstclasspeople,andtheyarethecenterofthesociallife.Therearenoblacksorothercoloredpeoplewhocanbethepresident,oreventheleadingofficers.Forthewhitepeople,theybelievetheyare,undoubtedly,superiortotheblackpeople;theblackpeoplewereborntobeslaves,orthelowestclasspeople.Atthelateofthe19thcentury,theblackpeople’shumanrightsandcivilrightshadbeenacceptedinlaw,butinpracticetheywerestilloppressedphysiologicallyandintelligently.Forlaw,itprescribesthateveryoneisequal,butitdoesnotprescribethatthewhiteandblackpeoplecansittogether,sharethepublicequipmenttogether,orworktogether.Therefore,inmanyplaces,thewhitesandtheblacksaresegregated.Inrestaurant,therearetheWhites’ZoneandtheBlacks’Zone;inthetrain,therearedifferentcarriagesforthewhitesandtheblacks.

Inthepast,theblackpeopleweretoldthatthereasonwhytheywereblackwasbecausetheirbloodwasblack,andtheyweredyedwiththeblackblood.Somanyblackwomentriedtofindhusbandswhichwerewhitertomixbecausetheybelievedthattheblacknesswoulddisappearinthatway.InBeloved,grandmaBabySuggsponderedcolorduringherlostyears.“Tookheralongtimetofinishwithblue,theyellow,thengreen.Shewaswellintopinkwhenshedied.”(Morrison201)Sheusedthelittleenergyleftherforponderingallkindsofcolors,exceptredandblackwhichreferstothebloodandtheblackpeople.Shesaid,thecolorswouldn’thurtpeople.However,it’sthecolorthatreallyhurtspeople,evenkillspeople–theBlacks.Inthewhites’opinion,beingdarkisugly,andblackisequaltoevil,whilebeingwhiteisbeautiful.Thentheblackwomenwerefacedwithevenmoreproblems.Theirfigureswereusuallyabused,disparaged,distortedandevenusedasweaponstoattackthemselves.Manyblackwomencouldn’tbearsuchmiseries,theyhadtoabandontheirownfigures,andturntomasks.

Inthesociety,menareconsideredtobeindependent,offensive,competitive,rational,andintrepid,whilewomenaresuchagroupthatmostofthemareoppressedbysexdiscrimination.Manyblackwomenfeelthattheyalwaysseethemselvesthroughothers’eyes,treasuretheirownsoulsbythewhites’rule,andtheworldalwayslooksdownuponthemandshowsnomercytothem.Theyreallyfeelhorrorintheirinnerheart.Theysuffernotonlyintheirsouls,butalsointheirbodies.

Although“Everybodyhashislibertyandright.”(詹妮特412),femaleisunequaltomaleeverywhere,forexample,inthefamilyfemaleusuallytakesonallthehousework,andtakecareofthechildren.Itisconsideredthatwomenareborntobehousewives.Theyareborntolookaftertheirhusbandsandtheirdutyistogivebirthtochildren.Inthosedays,womendidn’thavetheirrightsandwasn’trespected.Theywerejustlikemen’saccessories.TheblackwomenmadecontributionstotheUnitedStates,andthesocietyhadneverstoppedenjoyingthebenefitsmadebythem.Butasablackwoman,nomatterhowsmartsheis,howmuchabilityshehas,andhowbeautifulsheis,shealsocan’tbeacceptedeasilybythewhitesociety.Theyarestilldiscriminatedandcrashedbypeople’soldprejudicialideas,andareruledbytheworldofthewhitepeople.Theoldideaholdsthatifablackwomanisstrong,sheisnotbeautiful,andevencannotberegardedasawoman;butifshedoesaservantwork,preparingfoodandsettingakidtogotoschool,shemustbestupid.Therefore,theblackpeoplearelookedthroughglasseswithcolor.Nomatterwhattheydo,theyalwayssufferfromdiscrimination;nomatterhowsuccessfultheyget,theyarestilllookeddownuponfortheirblackskins.Thatisabiginjuryintheirinnerheart,andthepublicopinionandpressuregivethemtheallusionthattheycannotdoanything.Theyhavetowaitforthedefinitionandevaluationbythewhitepeople.

Withtheriseoffeministmovement,somewomenbegantorealizethattheyshouldhavetheirrights.Then,womenbegantofightfortheirownrights.Butmostofthemarewhitewomen;theyjustfightfortheWhite.However,theyexcludedtheblackwomenfromgettingintothem.So,whenthewhitewomengraduallywintheirrightsinpoliticaloreconomicrealm.Theblackwomenarestilloppressedandhavetolivetragiclives.Becausetheoppressionisdoubled,theyhavetobeartheoppressionbothfromthemenandthewhitewomen.Somewhitewomensaidthattheycallforthesisterhoodwithoutracialism,andtheywanttolettheblackwomenjointhemtogetherforthismovement.Itseemsthattheyjustwanttoinvite“theguest—theblackwomen”asahost.So,manyblackwomenbelievedthatitisnotgoodforthemanditisuselessforthemtotakepartinthemovementtofightforthewhitewomen.

Therefore,itcanbesaidthattheracialdiscriminationwillexistforalongtimebecauseofthesocialsystem,andtheblackwomenwillstillliveintheirtragiclivesforalongtime.B.TheGrowthoftheBlackWomen

ThereisamottoofIrishRevolution–“Youshouldsallyoutbyyourselfifyouwantliberty”(詹妮特467)—that’sfitfortheblackwomenabsolutely.Theblackwomenmustfightbythemselvestowinthelibertyandrights.Andalso,peoplealwayssaythatwherethereisoppression,thereisresistance.Theblackwomen’ssituationisbad,buttheyneverlosetheirfaith.Theyaremakingunremittingeffortstofindtheirwaystoabetterfuture.That’stheirstrengthandgrowth.

Becauseoftheslavery,grandmaBabySuggswasdeprivedofrightstobetheothers’friend,daughter,wife,motherandsoon,andshehadsevenchildren,butwasallowedonlytoleaveherlittlesonHallebyherside.Thisisheronlychancetobeamother.Butatthattime,thechildrenoftheslavemothersdon’tbelongtothem;allofthemaretheprivatepropertyoftheslaveowner,andlikethetoolsofworkers,theyaretreatedequaltothelivestock.BabySuggshatestheWhitesverymuchandshehopesthereisaclearplaceleftforher.ButwhentheWhitesbreakintotheyard,shecandonothing,butjustacceptit,ponderingcolorandwaitingfordeath.Beforeshehasbeenransomed,shehasnoideasaboutherself.Aftershegetsfreedom,sherealizesthatiftheBlackswanttogetliberty,theyshouldknowtheirownvalue,andlearntolovethemselves.So,inthewoods,sheappealshercompatriotsforlovingthemselves:

Loveyourhands!Lovethem.Raisethemupandkissthem.Touchotherswiththem,patthemtogether,strokethemonyoursface’causetheydon’tlovethateither.Yougottoloveit,you!Andallyourinsidepartsthatthey’djustassoonslopforhogs,yougottolovethem.Thedark,dark—loveit,loveit,andthebeatandbeatingheart,lovethattoo.Morethaneyesorfeet.Morethanlungsthathaveyettodrawfreeair.Morethanyourlife-holdingwombandyourlife-givingprivateparts,hearmenow,loveyourheart.Forthisistheprize.(Morrison89)

Obviously,lovingthemselvesisthefirststepthattheblackbegintofindtheirownidentityandgrowup.

Infact,theblackwomenareneveryieldtotheoutside.WhenSethegetstoknowthattheschoolteacherandhisnephewsaredoingresearchaboutblackslavesandputSethe’s“humancharacteristicsontheleft;heranimalonesontheright,”(Morrison193)Sheisshockedandswearsthatshewouldneverallowherchild’scharacteristicstobeputontheanimal’sside.So,whenherhusbandHalleandSixo’sfirstescapeplanfails,sheresolutelydecidestoescapealoneandthenshedoesit.Inthissense,Sethe’sescapeisthedemonstrationofherstrengthandself-growth.Whenshekillsherdaughter,herintensematernalloveisdriventoextremes.Thatmeansthataslavefirstlydominatesherownlife.Undoubtedly,sheuseshercourageandstrengthtochallengethesociety.

WhenPaulD,herboyfriend,knowsthetruthofthefactsaboutSethe’skillingmatter,heaccusesher“Yourloveistoothick”.Butsheanswers,“Loveisoritain’t.Thinloveain’tloveatall.”(Morrison164)Here,anationalitywhichhaslosttheirwordsforalongtimefinditsownsoundsandcharactersfromawoman.Morrisonchoosesthewomenwhoareoppressedbyraceandsextobetheleadingactorsofhernationalheroepic,andtofindawayoutforthenationality.Thatdoesnotdisobeythenationalhistory,theactualactualities,andthestrengthofblackwomen,butembodiesherconsistentthinkingabouttheblackwomen.

Whentheschoolteacheriscoming,Sethedecidestokillherchildrentoexchangetheirlastingfreedom.Whenshecutsthebaby’sthroat,shebelievesthatshehastherighttoexchangeherlifeforfreedom.Atthatmoment,Sethehasalreadybeguntofindsomewaystogetlibertyanddetermineherchildren’sdestinyherself.

AndforDenver,attheendoftheBeloved,shefinallyrealizestheonlywaytoprotecthermotheris“Shewouldhavetoleavetheyard,stepofftheedgeoftheworld,leavethetwobehindandgoasksomebodyforhelp”(Morrison243)“Knowit,andgoonouttheyard.Goon.”(Morrison244)Withtheencouragementofherpassedgrandma,Denverfinallyhasthecouragetogoouttheyard,andfoundherfirstjob,thenthesecond,andthethird.WhenPaulDwantstoexpresshisopinionaboutBeloved,shestopshim,“Ihavemyown.”(Morrison267)Denvergoesoutoftheyardwithself-confidence,sheknowswhosheis,andfinallyshehasfoundheridentity.

Thethreewomen’schangesdemonstratethegrowingprocessoftheblackwomen.Nomatterhowhardthesituationis,theyinsistontheirfaithallthetime.Inthepast,peoplealwaysthinkthattheyaretheweakgroup.Buttheydon’tacceptit;theyprovetheirstrengthintheirownways.AndforMorrison,shealsohasherownwaystoshowherspiritofresistance.Whensheisnotafamousauthorattheverybeginning,herworkisrefusedtobepublishedforseveraltimes.Butshedoesgiveup.Finally,shemakesit.ShebecomesaveryfamouspersonandwinstheNobelPrize.Inface,shealwayswritesstoriesfortheblackwomen,andsheisveryproudofherstatus.Sheoncesaidthat,sheisnotonlyablackwriter,butmoreimportantly,ablackfemalewriter.Shejustusesherworkstoprovethattheblackwomenwillnotalwaysbesilentandpassive.Theblackwomenwillgraduallybreaktheprejudiceagainstthemandgrowuppsychologicallyandintellectually.

ThereisafamouscaseofBrownVSBoardofEducationinthehistoryoftheirstrugglesandgrowth.Brownisablackgirl,andthusisrefusedtogointothewhites’schoolbecauseofracialsegregation,butshedoesnotacceptit.SherejectsitandaccusestheBoardofEducation.Atlast,thehighcourtjudgesshewinsthecaseandshefinallycangointothisschoolequallywiththewhitestudents.

Undoubtedly,theblackwomennowwillnotjustwaitforoppression.Theircommonaimistooverthrowtheideathattheyshouldbeobedient.Theycallforrespectanddemandtoshareeducation,chances,dutiesandrights.Theyarenotwillingtostayathome,andsubordinatetotheirhusbandsanylonger.Infact,therearemoreandmoreoutstandingblackwomenwhocomeout,andbuildupmanyassociationstocallfortheirrightswhichtheyoughttohave.Graduallytheblackwomengointoschoolsandhavethesamechancesforeducation,andcomeintothesocietyandhavethesamechancesforvoting.Theyknowthoughtheroadforthemisverydifficulttogo,theystillbelievethattheycanmakeit.Theywillnotstoptheirfightinguntiltheygettheirrights.

Infact,throughtheirefforts,thesituationoftheblackwomenisgettingbetter.Ofcourse,theystillhavemanyhindrances,butmorepeoplearechangingtheirideasabouttheblackwomen.Gradually,theblackwomenarenottreatedasmachineswhicharealwaysdoingthewashing,cookingorevenjustgivingbirthtochildrenanymore.

Nowadays,theblackwomenhavetheirunionsorassociations,andmoreandmoreblackwomenbegintojointhem.Theycanexpresstheirvoicesthroughtheseunions.Moreimportantly,theybegintodemonstratetheirgrowthandstrengthinmanyfields.Therearetheblackwomen’sfiguresinmanycompanies,andsomeofthemareeveninthemanagement.Thereareevensomeblackwomenwhotakepartinpolitics.Inthissense,theblackwomenhavealreadyprovedtheirvalueandimportance.Theyareneverlackofpowerandstrength.II.BlackWomenNowadaysToday,moreandmorepeoplerealize,thoughtsomeimprovementoftheblackwomen’ssocialposition,thatitisaproblemthattheblackwomenarestilltreatedimproperly.Theyhavefoundtheblackwomen’sadvantagesandknowtheyareasthesameasotherpeoples.Afterconstantstruggles,thesituationisgettingbetter,andmoreandmoreblackwomenaregraduallyacceptedbythesociety.

Aftertheyareoppressedbyracialdiscriminationandsexdiscriminationforseveralcenturies,theblackwomennotonlybegintofeedtheirfamily,butalsobecomeleadersofcompaniesorstarsinmedia.Andsomeofthemareeveninthearmyorthegovernment.Therearealsomanyblackwomeninthenationalorworld’sathleticscompetitionswhocontinuouslywinthefirstplace,andbreaktherecord.Theydoaverygoodjobinmanyareas.Forexample,inliterature,news,music,dance,drama,andscience,theymakeverygreatcontributionstobothAmericaandtheworld,andamongthemaretheTalkShowQueenOprahWinfrey,thePoetMayaAngelou,thefirstAfrica-AmericanfemalepilotDoctorMayJamison,thetennisathleteVenusWilliams,themoviestarAlfredWoodard,thedancerJudithJamison,thepainterFaith,andofcoursethenovelistToniMorrison……Allofthemaretalented,beautifulandthoughtful.Theyshowtheirownstrengthandpowertothewholeworld.Forexample,theTalkShowQueenOprahWinfreyisablack,andalsoawoman.Shegrowsupinapoorfamily,butnevergivesupherstudy.WhenshefirsttakesajobasthehostofaTVprogram,manypeopledetestsherbecausesheisablack.Sheusesheramiablecharmtowintheconfirmationandagreement.Atthattime,thetalkshowisdominatedbyman,butafterOprah’sappearance,thesituationischanged.Shesharesherpainfulexperiencesandfrustrationwithpeople.Peopleloveherprogram,andmakeanidolofher.Now,sheisoneofthemostinfluentialandrichestwomen,andbecomesasymbolofAmerica.Shesaysthatshebelievesshecanprovetothewholeworldwithherstrugglethatthereisawaytothetruth.

AndthereisanothermodelinAmericanpolitics,CondoleezzaRice.Herlegendiswidelyacknowledged;shehasagoodeducationalbackground;sheisverysharpinpoliticalproblems,andisalsogoodatpiano.Hersuccessprovesthatblackwomencanbeasthesameasthewhites.Undoubtedly,sheisinfluencedbytwoworlds:oneisthepastexperiencesoftheblacksoppressedbythewhites,andtheotheristhepresentandthefuturewhichcooperateswiththewhite.It’shardtoimaginethathowshecanhandletheconflictsbetweenthetwoworlds.ThereisneverablackwomanwhocanpossesssogreatpowerinAmericanpoliticsbefore.Butactuallyshemakesit.Obviously,allthemodelsmentionedabovearegoodmodelstoencouragetheblackwomenthattheycandoanythingwhichotherpeoplescando.

ConclusionThroughBeloved,ToniMorrisonshowstheprocessofgrowthofthreegenerationsoftheblackwomen.Theoldgenerationrealizedtheirmiseries,buttheydonotknowhowtochangethesituation,sotheyjustacceptthem;thesecondgenerationisunwillingtobeoppressed,sotheytrytofindawayout.Attheendofthefiction,thethirdgenerationfinallyfindstheirownidentity,andthenbeginstobuildupabetterfuture.

InAmericanhistory,therearemanywomenmovements,andtherearemoreandmorepeoplewhocomeouttobeagainstracialdiscrimination.Theblackwomenhavebeencryingforequaltreatmentandtheyhavedonealotforit.Theyaccountfor7percentofpopulationofwholeAmerica,buttheydon’thavetherealunderstandingandacceptancefromotherpeoples,especiallytheWhites,andthesociety.Nowadays,therearestillmorethan60percentoftheblackwomenwhoarenotsatisfiedwiththesituationoftheblacksinthesociety.Andnearly50percentoftheblackwomenarenotsatisfiedwiththeirownsituationinthesociety.

Infact,theyarestillinfluencedandcontrolledbythewhites,butfortunately,theblackwomennowhavemoreandmorechancestoshowtheirvaluesandstrength.Theyarenotjusttoolstogivebirthtobabiesorjustdothehousework,orthefarmwork.Theynowhavechancestostandonanupperstagetoprovethattheyareascapableasothers.Theblackwomenaremoreandmoreself-confident,andtheybegantobelieveintheirownstrengthandbeauty.Thus,peoplecanalwaysseebeautifulblackwomenwalkingontheT-stageorjoiningsomecompetitions.Theyevenjointhepoliticalstageanddoanexcellentwork.

However,theydonotandwillnotstoptheirresistanceifthereisstillunequaltreatmentordiscrimination.Itissafetosaythattherevolutionoftheblackwomenislikea“glassceiling”.Theycanseetheirprospectclearlybuttheystillhavealong-timefightandneedtomakegreatefforts.Fortunately,theygraduallygrowupandbuildverystrongstrengthtomakethemselvesacceptedbyothers.Infact,theblackwomenhavegreatstrengthandarefullofhope,andtheyarefollowingthewayofBabySuggs,Sethe,andDenver,andmakingtheirfuturemorewonderful.

WhenMartinLutherKingJr.saidthathehadadreamthathischildrenwouldnotbejudgedbythecoloroftheirskinbutthecontentoftheircharacter,itwasunderstoodthatequalrightsforAfrican-AmericanswouldbegoodforallAmericans.Likewise,whentheblackwomenhaveequalrightswithothersandwhenlawssupportthepracticeofthatequality,peoplewillliveinabetterAmerica,andalsoinabetterworld.Thatis,undoubtedly,thereasonwhyToniMorrisondeliberatelydemonstratesthetragedyandgrowthoftheblackwomenthroughthestoryofBeloved.

AcknowledgementsIwouldliketotakethisopportunitytoexpressmyheartfeltthankstomytutor—YuanBin,viceDeanofSchoolofForeignLanguagesandCultures,whooffersmeacademicandconstructiveadviceoncomposingthispaper.Hispatienthelpandtimelyencouragementareworthyofhighacknowledgement.Ontheprocessofcomposingthepaper,healsoplayedanimportantroleinindicatingabrightroadinmyfuturewriting.

Then,Idoneedtothankthepersonswhogivememylife—myfather,ZhangYu,mymother,ZhangWei,fortheirwarmcareand