The Bluest Eye And Sula By Toni Morrison
Born on February 18, 1931, in Lorain Ohio, Toni Morrison is the first African-American woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature and is one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th centaury. Toni Morrison is the voice of consciousness in America; she provokes us to become better, to look at the horrors of our past so we strive for a better future. With her subjectivity towards racism, Toni Morrison paved the way for an entire generation of African American women. With her two famous books “The Bluest Eye” and “Sula,” she gave a voice to their worthiness and beauty.
As soon as Toni Morrison was born, her parents moved to the North, to escape the problems of southern racism. Morrison's father, George Wofford, from an early age discussed …show more content…
with Morrison the hardships the black community endured while being patronize by the whites. To which Morrison admits, the discussions created an atmosphere of grave injustice she looked to change. Her mother Raham initiated Morrison’s love for reading, and she is the main reason Morrison started writing.
With the endeavor to change this racial injustice and her love for reading, Morrison was able to find inspiration and write such powerful books.
Morrison’s first novel the “Bluest Eye” makes people contemplate beauty standards in society today.
She tells the story of a group of young black girls, that after facing constant racial discrimination and humiliation grew up to resent and self-hate their appearance. The white standard of beauty, as the book explains it, is internalized deeply into the lives of black girls, deforming their worthiness as they grow up. Morrison intention with this book is to communicate how the African American women allowed the white beauty standard to dictate and control their life, while looking to encourage African American women to stop letting others value and judge their appearance, so they can start integrating their own standard of beauty into society. That is why though the novel the white standard of beauty is pervasive, only because there is no existent black standard of beauty.
Toni Morrison’s second book “Sula” is directed towards the importance of feminism. Morrison portrayed her female characters as fiercely and independent, subvert to the traditional assigned role of a “dutiful woman” (wife, mother, daughter).
Through the protagonist, she emphasizes and recognizes the power of womanhood and what exerting that power brings. The protagonist feminist spirit leads her to accomplish one of her most desired dreams. While the rest of the woman who settled for the “traditional life”, lost their sense of self and died with unaccomplished dreams and
regrets.
Morrison decides to portray the importance of feminism in such as harsh way, because she wants the idea to be transmitted and heard. She wants women to know that by believing in themselves and their potential, despite what society dictates dreams and success can be a part of life too.
Tony Morrison in her writing looks to stimulate African American women to love themselves, their race and culture. With her writing, she also looks to encourage woman to separate themselves from white superiority or white beauty standards. Due to the fact she believes that in order for a black woman to survive in a racist society she depends solemnly on the emphasis of loving herself, her race and believing in her capabilities. That is why through her books she explores feminism, self-love, and worthiness of oneself.
Toni Morrison experienced and observed these social issues and through literature, she inspired a change.
As soon as Toni Morrison was born, her parents moved to the North, to escape the problems of southern racism. Morrison's father, George Wofford, from an early age discussed …show more content…
with Morrison the hardships the black community endured while being patronize by the whites. To which Morrison admits, the discussions created an atmosphere of grave injustice she looked to change. Her mother Raham initiated Morrison’s love for reading, and she is the main reason Morrison started writing.
With the endeavor to change this racial injustice and her love for reading, Morrison was able to find inspiration and write such powerful books.
Morrison’s first novel the “Bluest Eye” makes people contemplate beauty standards in society today.
She tells the story of a group of young black girls, that after facing constant racial discrimination and humiliation grew up to resent and self-hate their appearance. The white standard of beauty, as the book explains it, is internalized deeply into the lives of black girls, deforming their worthiness as they grow up. Morrison intention with this book is to communicate how the African American women allowed the white beauty standard to dictate and control their life, while looking to encourage African American women to stop letting others value and judge their appearance, so they can start integrating their own standard of beauty into society. That is why though the novel the white standard of beauty is pervasive, only because there is no existent black standard of beauty.
Toni Morrison’s second book “Sula” is directed towards the importance of feminism. Morrison portrayed her female characters as fiercely and independent, subvert to the traditional assigned role of a “dutiful woman” (wife, mother, daughter).
Through the protagonist, she emphasizes and recognizes the power of womanhood and what exerting that power brings. The protagonist feminist spirit leads her to accomplish one of her most desired dreams. While the rest of the woman who settled for the “traditional life”, lost their sense of self and died with unaccomplished dreams and
regrets.
Morrison decides to portray the importance of feminism in such as harsh way, because she wants the idea to be transmitted and heard. She wants women to know that by believing in themselves and their potential, despite what society dictates dreams and success can be a part of life too.
Tony Morrison in her writing looks to stimulate African American women to love themselves, their race and culture. With her writing, she also looks to encourage woman to separate themselves from white superiority or white beauty standards. Due to the fact she believes that in order for a black woman to survive in a racist society she depends solemnly on the emphasis of loving herself, her race and believing in her capabilities. That is why through her books she explores feminism, self-love, and worthiness of oneself.
Toni Morrison experienced and observed these social issues and through literature, she inspired a change.