FRAGMENTED SELVES: INTERSECTIONS OF RACIAL TRAUMA AND FEMININITY IN TONI MORRISON'S THE BLUEST EYE AND BELOVED
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i1.2026.8329Keywords:
Toni Morrison, Racial Trauma, Femininity, Racism, Identity, Violence, Trauma, Oppression, Resilience, African AmericanAbstract [English]
Toni Morrison’s literary oeuvre is a profound exploration of the African American experience, particularly the enduring scars of racial trauma and the complex interplay of femininity within oppressive structures. The Bluest Eye (1970) and Beloved (1987) are seminal works that dissect the psychological and social ramifications of systemic racism, gendered violence, and the quest for identity. Through fragmented narratives and haunting symbolism, Morrison exposes the cyclical nature of trauma and the resilience of marginalized voices. This paper examines how racial trauma and femininity intersect in these novels, analyzing characters like Pecola Breedlove and Sethe, whose fractured selves embody the consequences of historical and cultural violence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 R. Rajeswari, Dr. Sowmiya L. M.
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