In Beloved, The Bluest Eye and Songs of Solomon Morrison explores the affects of racism and slavery through her characters Beloved, Pecola and Milkman. Morrison also shows through these characters that past actions affect future generations. For example Beloved dies because of slavery even though she herself was never a slave. In The Bluest Eye Cholly is subject to humiliation because of two white men. This causes Cholly to take out his anger on women. This moment that happened even before Pecola's birth drastically affects her life. Milkman, in the Song of Solomon, has genetic malady an emotional disease that is caused by oppression and passed on to future generations. This draws a parallel to Beloved where rememories are constantly referred to as a way of the past affecting future individuals. Morrison clearly wants to show that slavery still has an affect on present generations even though it was abolished. Morrison was always taught to be proud of her African American heritage. Though she herself was never a slave her parents were subject to racism in the south. This has evidently affected her own life and has influenced her novels.
Articles:
Toni Morrison's Beloved:
History, "Rememory," and a
"Clamor for a Kiss" by Caroline Rody
Redeeming History: Toni Morrison's Beloved by Helene Moglen
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