Feminist Narrative And Trauma In Toni Morrison’s Beloved

Toni Morrison’s masterpiece Beloved, with many traumas both in physical and psychological aspects, has been considered as a novel of trauma. This thesis does not simply list those traumas in the novel, but turns to the superiority of Toni Morrison’s craftsmanship from the perspective of feminist narratology in presenting the characters’ trauma.The thesis begins with some theoretic knowledge concerning feminist narratology, focusing on narrativity and gender. Later in chapter one, a working definition of trauma is established, using the works of Sigmund Freud, Cathy Caruth, and relevant psychiatrists. Besides, the theme of trauma is discussed in this part. The following chapters examine the factors of weak narrativity in the novel respectively from non-linear narrative structure, destabilized characterization, and multiple Peak markings. Finally, the thesis makes a conclusion that Toni Morrison presents traumas by combining form and content, conveying her attitudes towards both the black people and their traumatic history in the past.