A Study Of Frank’s Identity Crisis In Toni Morrison’s Home From The Perspective Of Gender Identity

Toni Morrison is one of the most distinguished African American writers in literature. Her tenth novel was published in2012and she used the word "Home" to name this novel. Many critics remark on this novel from the perspectives of the special styles, the possible themes, the beautiful and powerful language, and techniques Morrison employed. Others think that it is a homecoming story and that it provides the imagination of the possibilities and reality of the living spaces for African American people. Of course, there are different voices about this novel. Quite a number of critics maintain that Home is a novel which focuses on the process of the hero’s physical and psychological growth. Their ideas are of good referential values to this research on gender identity of African Americans.This thesis, based on the findings from both textual and theoretical studies, holds that Home has successfully portrayed Frank, the protagonist, who has eventually obtained the inner strength from the black community so that his cultural and psychological trauma is healed and his masculinity, thus regained. Actually, the thesis conducts a textual analysis of the novel, with consideration to the theoretical perspectives of gender identity and masculinity, to illustrate why Frank, the African American protagonist, once lost his masculinity and how he later has, nourished by the African American community in his hometown, regained the manhood and identity. Gender identity is a person’s self-identification as a female or male. One’s biological sex is expected to be congruent with one’s gender identity. Otherwise one’s masculinity or femininity will be lost. Masculinity is a set of behaviors and characteristics connecting with a man. Masculinity can be influenced by several factors. Among these, the economic access, social situation and emotional expressivity contribute a lot to the formation of masculinity. These theories are quite vital for the research of the theme of Home.This thesis holds the idea that the loss of African American’s masculinity will affect their self-identity. Consequently, it will result in the crisis of culture identification. Adherence to the African American’s cultural tradition can guarantee their survival space. Sufficient evidence is given and analysis is made to support the ideas that, because of racial discrimination, financial dependence on others, the distant relationship between family members and the compatriots, and the cruelty of the war, Frank loses the masculinity. However, the warmth of community, economic independence, and the courage to face the past help Frank realize what a true man means. Eventually he regains the masculinity. This new novel Home provides the possibility for healing the trauma, regaining the masculinity, and guaranteeing the identity of African American in the mainstream culture.