Strike Up The Tune Of Humanism--On The Theme Of Song Of Solomon Embodied On Pilate's Way To Pursue Humanism

Song of Solomon (1977), a great novel of the black people, is one of the key works of Toni Morrison who is a remarkable black American writer in the 20th century. The publication of the book secures her status in the history of American literature.The traditional criticism took the idea of "a record of black men's growth experience" and "Negroes' reminiscence of their own civilization, and their desire and pursuit for freedom under the system of racial discrimination " as the theme of the book. So far, no paper has ever researched into the theme of humanistic pursuit in the book by concentrating on Pilate's way to pursue humanism, which is crucial to a deeper understanding of the book. On the one hand, humanism is an attitude that considers man's existence and value are of great importance in the world, which has become the backbone of the western literature as well as western culture. And since literature is a carrier of humanism, the core spirit of humanism is sure to be widely and profoundly embodied in the literary works. On the other hand, the understanding of such a theme can help the modern people out of the puzzlement, alienation and distortion in the complicated, indifferent, and merciless modern society, and help them get humanistic salvation and gradually realize their "ideal self.First of all, this thesis detailedly examines Pilate in three conflicts in the social context on her way to pursue humanism. The three conflicts are: conflict between self and society (humanism and Pilate's society, i.e. Pilate's clashes and incompatibility with her society, extreme deficiency of humanism in the society); conflict between self and self (Pilate's pursuit for humanism, the splitting and integration of Pilate's "self); conflict between self and others (Pilate's humanism and Milkman's humanistic growth, i.e. Pilate's impact on the growth of humanism in Milkman, Milkman's impact on the reinforcement of humanism in Pilate). Since novels reflect the plentiful and complicated social life with a series of characters and their complicated relationships, and this book molds humanism from the angleof character-enlightenment, the three conflicts are decisive for the final fulfillment of humanism in Pilate in the society that greatly lacks humanism.Moreover, the thesis analyzes the inheritance and continuation of humanism in the book, which suggests the enlightenment of humanism on man. When Pilate's humanism is finally fulfilled at her death in the cave in the south, her humanism is simultaneously passed down to Milkman, who finally grows to be a man of love, duty, and resolution under Pilate's humanistic influence. This symbolic ending of the book greatly highlights the theme of humanistic pursuit in the book.Finally, the thesis reviews how Pilate has fulfilled her humanistic pursuit in the three conflicts in her society, which is enlightening and instructive to the modern people who are trapped in various predicaments of the inhumane modern society.