Vulnerable Groups In Toni Morrison's Black Community

Many critics have explored various aspects of Song of Solomon (1977), one of the most acclaimed books by Toni Morrison. Some scholars concentrate on the protagonist Milkman, who is the only male hero in Morrison's seven novels. They read this novel as a bildungsroman or they view Milkman's search as a Homer's epic. Others concentrate on the female characters in this novel, especially the one who plays an essential role in Milkman's searching process, his aunt Pilate. On the basis of these studies, this thesis tries to analyze the less-cared groups in this novel, such as the poor, the children and the women, especially those who have a deep influence on Milkman's growing besides his aunt Pilate in view of feminist criticism. Furthermore, the author tries to point out that how these vulnerable groups live with the inspiration of their black culture. The harmony between their culture and their life helps them to overcome the bitterness and enjoy the sweetness. The body of the thesis is structured as follows:In Chapter One "The General Pattern in Toni Morrison's Works," Morrison's life is surveyed, followed by a brief introduction of her major novels. Throughout a general account of the novels, the author tries to summarize the basic pattern of Toni Morrison's writings. Her novels imply Morrison's social and historical sense, her female memory and her black memory.Chapter Two "Social and Historical Sense: The Children and the Poor in the Novel" focuses on the first kind of vulnerable group in black community. For the children, focuses are on the tragic living status of those who are left by flying Solomon; Junior Milkman's alienation; young Macon Dead II's alienation and young Pilate's experience as an expeller from black community. For the poor, the...