A Comparative Study Of Root-seeking Theme In Black Literature

Roots by Alex Haley,a black writer who won the Pulitzer Special Prize,Native Son by Richard Wright,one of the founders of Protest Novel,and Harlem Renaissance writer Jean Toomer’s Cane are all progressive typical works in black literature,these three works respectively use plain language to show a strong concern for the survival and development of the black community in white society.Three writers all embodies the theme of root-seeking in their creations.There are many single studies on three works by the critics,but there are few comparative studies.Therefore,the research object of this paper is to explore the differences between three works on the theme of root-seeking through theme research of the comparative literature’s basic method and the theoretical base of root-seeking literature,in order to reveal the humanistic concern of three writers on the common root-seeking dilemma and identity consciousness of the black community under the social and cultural background at that time,and provide reasonable path for black root-seeking.The full text is divided into six parts.The first chapter explains the research background and purposes,sorts out the root-seeking theme and the relevant research results based on Roots,Native Son and Cane,identifies black community’s root-seeking as the research object,combs its development in American literature,and elaborates on the feasibility of three works as representative research.The second chapter interprets the differential performance of the black community’s root-seeking theme in the novel,specifically from the differences of protagonist’s growth background and three paths of root-seeking,and at the same time analyzes the construction of the discourse power when women face double oppression.The third chapter presents the similarity of the black community’s root-seeking theme,such as their own weakness,the loss of cultural subjectivity,the failure of dialogue between blacks and whites,and analyzes similar broken relationships encountered by different protagonists.Through the presentation of the root-seeking theme in all aspects of the novel,the fourth chapter discusses the path of the root-seeking dilemma,and explores the destination of the black community’s root-seeking theme,which are root-seeking and returning,root-seeking and freedom,and root-seeking and transcendence.The fifth chapter summarizes the path selection of the black community,including the construction of their own subjectivity,the establishment of white equal racial awareness,the integration of black culture and white culture,and then the black community choose the path to find the root,so as to find the root of culture.The sixth chapter summarizes the value of root-seeking theme in black literature to literature,humanities and society,broadens the scope of literary research,builds awareness of racial equality,and witness the development of multicultural society.