| On the basis of the Spatial Criticism, this thesis will make a comparative study of Song of Solomon and Home. Through the comparison, the author tries to reveal what problems the African Americans are faced, what strategies Morrison gives to reconstruct their own spaces, what similarities and differences are between the two novels and what changes we can find in Morrison’s creative thinking.In the two novels, the characters face similar problems in their living spaces but have different spatial practices. Chapter one is an analysis of their physical space. In Song of Solomon, Pilate tries to resist with her own traditional culture. However, she fails to “pilot” the whole black community to reconstruct their own representational space. In Home, the black community helps the characters find their sense of belonging. Chapter two is about the household. In Song of Solomon, the home built up by Pilate is also isolated and not strong enough to protect the individuals in it. In Home, with the help of the black community, Frank and Cee finally build up their ideal home. Chapter three is about the individual mental space. In both the two novels, it is in the South, in the place where the African Americans live as a community and where their own culture hasn’t been replaced by the white culture that the individuals bring an end to their rootlessness and find their spiritual home.After more than 30 years, Morrison knows more clearly that to reconstruct their own representational space, it is necessary to have the awakening and spatial practice of a certain individual such as Pilate, but more importantly, those of the whole community. Their own culture is a tool to resist the dominance, but it can only play a better role in the community. Morrison’s humanistic imagination is enlightenment to the African Americans as well as the whole human race. Each human being should rely on their own culture and also each other to find their sense of belonging. |
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