The Whites' Identity Anxiety In Toni Morrison's Tar Baby

Toni Morrison is the first African-American woman writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature.Morrison's novels serve as a kaleidoscope of African-Americans and reflect her contemplation on the outlet of black culture.Tar Baby is her forth novel,which stayed on a consecutive bestseller list of New York Times for four months after its publication.Unlike Morrison's other works,prominent white protagonists are portrayed to be paralleled to black ones.Therefore,apart from some universal themes such as culture conflict of African-Americans,the criticism of capitalism,the search for identity,this thesis provides a new angle to study the white protagonists,which shows that Morrison surpasses her racial identity by focusing much attention to the living condition of white Americans as well.Taking the perspective of existential psychology,the present thesis attempts to delve into identity anxiety of white Americans in Tar Baby so as to reveal its existential psychological causes.In Tar Baby,the Valerians are haunted by identity anxiety,which manifests in different symptoms.Valerian's egulfment angst manifests in his estrangement from his Umwelt,Mitwelt,and Eigenwelt,which destroys his connection with the outside world and threatens his sense of being and his autonomous identity.Margaret's depersonalization angst is revealed in her being depersonalized,her depersonalizing of others and self-depersonalization,which contributes to her doubt of herself as a living being and her uncertainty about her autonomous identity.Michael's implosion angst is indicated in his conflict with reality and his indulgence in illusion,which results in his weak sense of being and his confusion of his autonomous identity.Then the causes are explored.Valerian's haunted sense of loneliness,Margaret's lasting sense of invisibility and Michael's endless sense of homelessness are respectively exposed as the specific reasons for the formation of their uncertainty about autonomous identity,which leads to the essential cause of identity anxiety called ontological insecurity.Finally,measures are explored.To survive identity anxiety,Valerian employs the strategy of incomplete compromise.On one hand,he conforms to capitalist culture.On the other hand,he desires to keep true to his inner heart,which eventually causes his collapse in mind and body.To get rid of identity anxiety,Margaret adjusts herself deftly to different harsh situations and finally constructs normal relation to the outside world and inner world,winning a triumph over depersonalization angst.To avoid being tortured by identity anxiety,Michael exiles himself from home and tries to find console from other cultures.It is inevitable for him to lose the battle with implosion angst for his inability to escape from illusion and construct relations.The research on identity anxiety imposed on the Valerians reveals the most fundamental and universal cause for modern man's plight,regardless of race,class and gender.The outlet of tackling identity anxiety is to connect with the outside and inner worlds in a healthy and intimate way.Only when the value and importance of human connection with the outside and inner worlds are refocused on can one manage to fight against the anxiety and to struggle one's way out to live with a firm sense of autonomous identity.Based on the research result,the present thesis looks forward to deepening the understanding of the philosophical thinking on individual freedom from identity anxiety and human existence in Tar Baby.