| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 英語學系 === 87 === Abstract
Being a black woman and a famous writer, Toni Morrison decisively asserts that she writes for black women. Due to black women*s double marginality, people do not really understand black women. As a result, people judge black women through the misunderstanding so that the image of black women is not authentic. They are described as dirty, ignorant and superstitious group because of their absence from school and dark skin. Obviously, the significant role that black women play is invisible to the public. Thus, the re-presentation of black women becomes Morrison*s main concern in her writing. In other words, Morrison tires to make "present" and "visible" the true image of black women that is absent in literature and history.
In Song of Solomon, by re-presenting those black women who contribute to the hero*s growth, Morrison introduces black women as a capable and important group in the black community. Like most traditional black women, the female characters in her novels are most marginalized ones and neglected in the black community. Without money, they cannot receive formal education. What they can do in their daily life is the housework, singing and story-telling. Such a simple and easy life, however, breeds them a free mind. They can live their unique life and ignore the morality preached in school. While they regard singing and story-telling as the important activities in life, they consequently preserve the valuable oral tradition in the black culture. These women eventually become the best teachers for the protagonist, a man who is ignorant of his own roots. Aside from the preservation of the black culture and their guidance to the hero, these black women are also the protectors of the repressed history. Apparently, through their contribution to the individuals, to the black community, to history, Morrison makes black women*s invisible yet important role present. Meanwhile, black women*s significant status also powerfully revises the misconception, the ruined image imposed on themselves in Song of Solomon.
This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is a review of black women*s negative image in literature and history. Also, it provides Toni Morrison*s attitude toward people*s misconception of black women, and how she justifies black women*s distorted image in Song of Solomon. Chapter two collates Morrison*s defense for black women from her essays and interviews. Chapter three reveals the significant roles that black women always do in their daily life through certain female characters in Song of Solomon. Meanwhile, it explains the intimate relationship between black people and the black legacy. Chapter four further explores the important influence of the black legacy upon black females through some black women*s encounters. Chapter five concludes the thesis with an examination of Morrison*s revision of Western literary tradition in Song of Solomon.
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