ABSTRACT

Beloved is written by Toni Morrison, an African-American writer, and Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award for Beloved. Based on a detailed analysis of the original work and its relevant materials, this paper argues mainly black females’ trauma in Beloved. From the perspective of black feminism, the paper analyzes the sufferings of black women and dissects the enormous trauma of black women from slavery. It also includes their self-awareness and self-construction under the oppression of slavery and further explores the writer’s thinking and advocacy about the black feminism and sexual harmony.

Key words：Toni Morrison; Beloved; slavery; black females; trauma

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

1.1A Brief Introduction to Toni Merrison and Beloved-1

1.2 Literature Review-3

1.3 The Significance of This Thesis ..6

Chapter Two  VARIOUS TRAUMAS CAUSED BY SLAVERY-8

2.1 Direct Trauma-8

2.2 Transgenerational Trauma-9

2.3 Cultural Trauma-10

Chapter Three  THE SHADOW OF SLAVERY-12

3.1 The Existing Problems -12

3.2 The Hostile Situations-13

3.3 The Extreme Struggles-14

Chapter Four BLACK WOMEN'S SELF-AWARENESS -17

4.1 Constructing Self-identity-17

4.2 Pursuing Sexual Harmony-18

4.3 Establishing National Soul-19

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-21

WORKS CITED-23