A JOURNEY TOWARDS WHOLENESS: EXPLORING TRAUMA AND HEALING IN TONI MORRISON’S HOME

Abstract [English]

Toni Morrison was a distinguished American novelist, essayist, book editor, and professor. Growing up during a time of racial tension in mid-20th-century America, Morrison’s awareness of racial inequality and injustice shaped her writing. The realities of living in a segregated society influenced her to explore themes such as race, identity, and social disparity. Trauma plays a central role in African American literature, acting as a powerful medium through which painful and often neglected histories are revisited.
The paper studies Toni Morrison's penultimate novel, Home (2012) with particular focus on the intricate nature of trauma and its lasting effects on individuals and communities. Set against the backdrop of war and brutal racial discrimination, Home focuses on male perspectives, examining the brutal realities of war, its profound emotional impact on men, the strength of male friendships, and the sense of duty and solidarity that emerges among brothers. The paper engages in an indepth analysis of trauma theory. Through this paper, I seek to demonstrate how the accumulation of experiences such as witnessing violence, enduring discrimination, facing limited opportunities, and grappling with societal stereotypes leaves the main characters Frank Money and his sister Cee with a profound sense of humiliation and alienation. In Home, Morrison charts the challenging yet essential journey from trauma to healing. The paper examines how Morrison traces the process of self-transformation, emerging from painful external events like racial conflict while also celebrating the indomitable spirit that endures in the face of adversity.