The Search For Cultural Identity

In the middle and late period of the20th century, African Americansurvival status presents a peaceful appearance, however, Blacks’ issuesshielded in the appearance are more covert and more essential, so mostAmerican writers express and focus on these conflicts, and try to attempttheir quest for a solution to these issues. Morrison is one of the profoundwriters who reveal the African American issues deeply. As Morrison’s thirdnovel, Song of Solomon following the step of Native Son and Invisible Manbecomes the third milestone in African American literary circles. Thisthesis tries to analyze Song of Solomon from the perspective of culturalidentity, based on which to reflect Morrison’s recognition and explorationof African American issues.According to Stuart Hall’s opinion that black Americans belong to“the diaspora of African American folk”, in addition to Marxism theory ofliterature and art’s feasibility study in the textual analysis and Yi Junqing’sresearch about the philosophy of “everyday life”, this thesis is establishedin the reconstruction of cultural identity, and takes black life displayed inSong of Solomon as point of penetration, to study the Black’sreconstruction of cultural identity embodied in Song of Solomon. In thispaper, African American everyday life is the entry point to study the Black’s issues. Everyday life is everywhere, including basic necessitieslike food, clothes, transportation, accommodation; family relationship;emotional communication; play and entertainment and so on, behind whichblack cultural characteristics from a person to a group is identified, and itis also an approach to know the history, spirit and culture of this folkgroup.Based on the above study approach and perspective, as far as thispaper is concerned, Song of Solomon pays attention to the Black’smarginalized living status in America, and probes the most important issue,as to black American—the reconstruction of cultural identity. Meanwhile,we discover that Morrison focuses on black Americans and their social life,and she tries to penetrate black history, spirit, culture and group memorythrough her depiction and thought about black life, in terms of relocatingBlacks’ position in American society, and help Blacks to pursue their spiritand comfortable living place.This thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter One begins with anintroduction of Toni Morrison, scans the critical responses to her works athome and abroad especially on Song of Solomon, and reveals the statementand significance of the thesis. Chapter Two is the theoretical basis of thisthesis. It selectively introduces the definition of culture and culturalidentity, dates from the historical cause of the lack of Blacks’ culturalidentity, and briefly states the black American literary spiritual quest for cultural identity. In Chapter Three, the life of Macon Dead I, Macon DeadII and Guitar is depicted, through which this thesis reveals that North ofAmerica is not paradise of the Black; on the other hand, the Black’s lifewhich abandons black culture and is alienated by white-dominated cultureis not happy, only tragic. Chapter Four analyzes the protagonist Milkman’sgrowing progress of obtaining rebirth and reconstructing cultural identity,with the guide of two women Pilate and Circe, through his south journeyfor wealth, revealing only the reconstruction of cultural identity can helpAfrican Americans get rid of living dilemma and seek out “poetic”residence. Chapter Five is the conclusion that brings a brief view of thethesis, reaffirming the significance of interpreting Song of Solomon fromthe perspective of cultural identity. However, in Song of Solomon,Morrison does not find the ultimate solution to the fusion of black andwhite culture, yet, she sets up a signpost for the continuous exploration ofAfro-American issue.