A Feminist Reading Of Song Of Solomon

African American writer Tony Morrison looks on writing as"a way of thinking"and tries her best to uphold and carry forward African culture. Her novels are always concerned with the history, fate and psychology of African Americans, especially of those marginalized people—African American women, with the aim to highlight their gender, race and culture. The unique and traditional culture and virtues in African American women appeals deeply to Morrison. Song of Solomon is not an exception. Although male characters seem to occupy the central and leading position in this novel, black women, who are under the double oppression of whites and men, are the real subject of the author's care and sympathy.This thesis, by employing feminist critique, is to analyze Morrison's efforts in Song of Solomon to reconstruct African culture and to make women's voice heard.Chapter One focuses on the inter-sexual relationship in this novel. The male protagonists such as Macon, Dr. Ruth and Milkman look on women as lifeless dolls and their private possessions. Under the bi-oppression of racism and sexism, black women are leading miserable lives without self-identity. Some of them rise to resist the patriarchal and gender discriminations. However, black women are not always dependent and obedient. Black men, especially Milkman, depend on the women both physically and spiritually for their development and maturation. In spite of her feminist stand, Morrison here does not advocate fierce battles between opposite sexes; instead, she is more concerned with uncovering the cultural values of black women.Chapter Two intends to interpret the cultural implications of this novel by analyzing the ballad"Song of Solomon", the tradition of flying and the use of some African rites. The black men's flying away rid themselves of slavery and oppression; however, they leave behind their wives and children at the same time. With men's irresponsible flying away, the women have to take the burden of raising children and, the most important, to pass on the family names and ancestry. Therefore, the women who used to live under the shadow of their father and husband, step onto the foreground and receive due attention.Chapter Three demonstrates that Morrison has employed diversified narrative techniques, including multi-perspective narration, synchronic description and the power of naming. Due to the adoption of these feminist narrative strategy, Morrison renders her heroines the opportunity to defy bias in terms of both race and gender.To sum up, Song of Solomon seemingly describes the maturation of a black man, however, what Morrison really cares about is women's misfortune. In this male-centered novel, the author never stops her thinking as a feminist.