Quest for identity in selected works of Afro-American writers
Name - Himanshi Parmar
Semester - 4 (Four)
Roll Number - 8
Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com
Enrollment number - 4069206420210025
Paper number - 210
Paper name - Research Project Writing: Dissertation Writing
Subject Code - 22417
At the end I conclude my point by summarizing the entire research work. In the introduction part information about Afro American terms, African Writers, diaspora and identity crisis, information about Toni Morrison and Alice Walker along with their notable works are given. Main theory of the following dissertation is Quest for Identity. The research particularly focuses on African American writers and their works. Two works that are taken here in research are 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker and 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison.
The Quest for identity is a common theme in African American literature, particularly in Alice Walker's The Color Purple and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Both novels explore the ways in which racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression can affect an individual's sense of self-worth, as well as the ways in which personal and communal resilience can help to overcome these challenges. Through their depictions of complex and nuanced characters, both novels offer important insights into the experiences of black women and girls, and the ways in which they navigate the intersection of race, gender, and identity in a society that often denies their worth and value.
In The Color Purple, Alice Walker tells the story of Celie, a young black woman who is forced to endure years of abuse and trauma at the hands of her stepfather and husband. Through her experiences, Celie learns to reclaim her own sense of self-worth, as well as the power of personal agency and resilience. She forms close relationships with other women in her community, including her sister Nettie and her friend Shug Avery, and through these connections she is able to find the strength to overcome her past and forge a new identity for herself.
Similarly, in The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl who is subjected to a lifetime of abuse and trauma, both within her family and in her wider community. Pecola's quest for identity is closely tied to her desire for blue eyes, which she believes will make her beautiful and therefore worthy of love and acceptance. Through the experiences of Pecola and other characters in the novel, Morrison explores the ways in which racism and other forms of oppression can shape an individual's sense of self-worth, as well as the importance of communal support and resilience in the face of these challenges.
Comparing the two novels, we see that both The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye are concerned with issues of identity and self-worth, particularly as they relate to the experiences of black women and girls. However, while The Color Purple focuses primarily on the experiences of adult women, The Bluest Eye centers on the experiences of young girls, highlighting the ways in which the effects of racism and other forms of oppression can begin early in life and have long-lasting consequences.
Another key difference between the two novels is their use of language and narrative structure. Alice Walker employs a range of dialects and narrative voices in The Color Purple, creating a rich and nuanced portrayal of her characters' experiences. Toni Morrison, on the other hand, uses a more experimental narrative structure in The Bluest Eye, incorporating elements of magical realism and moving back and forth in time to create a complex and layered portrait of her characters' inner lives.
Despite these differences, both The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye offer powerful critiques of the ways in which racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression can shape an individual's sense of self-worth, as well as the ways in which personal and communal resilience can help to overcome these challenges. Through their vivid depictions of complex and nuanced characters, both novels offer important insights into the experiences of black women and girls, and the ways in which they navigate the intersection of race, gender, and identity in a society that often denies their worth and value.
The quest for identity is a prominent theme in both The Color Purple by Alice Walker and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. The protagonists in both novels, Celie and Pecola, respectively, struggle to find their place in a society that devalues them based on their race, gender, and socio-economic status. In their search for identity, they confront systemic oppression, familial abuse, and cultural conditioning.
Celie's journey in The Color Purple begins with her being repeatedly raped by her stepfather, leading to her becoming pregnant twice, and having her children taken away from her. She is then forced into a loveless marriage with a physically and emotionally abusive man, Mr., who refers to her as "ugly" and "worthless." However, over the course of the novel, Celie finds her strength and voice, learns to love herself and her sister Nettie, and ultimately reunites with her children. The minor character Shug Avery, a blues singer and Mr.'s mistress, helps Celie to discover her own sexuality and to see herself as a beautiful and valuable human being.
In The Bluest Eye, Pecola Breedlove is a young Black girl who yearns for blue eyes, believing that they will make her more accepted and loved by those around her. She is verbally and physically abused by her parents, who struggle with alcoholism and poverty, and by the other children in her community. Pecola eventually becomes pregnant by her father, resulting in a mental breakdown. The novel ends with her being sent to a mental institution. Morrison uses the minor characters Claudia and Frieda, Pecola's friends, to offer an alternative perspective on beauty and identity and to highlight the damaging effects of societal standards of beauty.
The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye share many similarities in terms of their themes and subject matter. Both novels explore the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, and the ways in which systemic oppression affects individuals and communities. They also highlight the importance of community and connection in the face of adversity. However, there are also significant differences between the two novels. The Color Purple is set in rural Georgia in the early 1900s, while The Bluest Eye is set in 1940s Ohio. Additionally, while The Color Purple is primarily focused on Celie's journey to self-discovery, The Bluest Eye offers a broader critique of American society's obsession with white beauty standards and the impact of that obsession on Black women.
In literature, both The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye have been highly regarded for their portrayal of Black female experiences and their contributions to feminist and African American literature. The Color Purple was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983 and has been adapted into an acclaimed stage musical and a film directed by Steven Spielberg. The Bluest Eye, Morrison's first novel, was initially met with mixed reviews but has since been recognized as a seminal work in African American literature and has been adapted for the stage.
In conclusion, The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye both offer compelling portraits of Black women's experiences and the quest for identity in the face of societal oppression. The protagonists, Celie and Pecola, struggle to find their place in a world that devalues them, but ultimately find strength and connection through their relationships with others. The minor characters in both novels offer alternative perspectives on identity and beauty and highlight the impact of systemic oppression on marginalized communities. Despite their similarities, the two novels also offer unique insights into the experiences of Black women in different time periods and cultural contexts. Overall, The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye remain important works of literature that continue to resonate with readers today. At last the point is that 'The Color Purple' and 'The Bluest Eye' can be compared through the lens of identity quest.
Work Cited
Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Vintage, 1999.
Walker, Alice. Color Purple. Wadsworth Publishing, 2006
No comments:
Post a Comment