Term of Award
Spring 2010
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English (M.A.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Literature and Philosophy
Committee Chair
David L. Dudley
Committee Member 1
Joseph Pellegrino
Committee Member 2
Caren J. Town
Abstract
This thesis uses Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Song of Solomon to discuss Toni Morrison's presentation of women as biological and surrogate mothers and the relationships those mothers have to their children. These mother-child relationships take place in African American "villages" and each chapter displays the relationship between the community (village) and the biological and surrogate mothers. Beloved represents the ultimate biological mother and Song of Solomon represents the ultimate surrogate mother. The Bluest Eye shows negative surrogacy and Sula shows the positives and negatives of biological and surrogate motherhood. Considered together, the novels work to form a village and each of the four novels is a vital community member. Collectively, the novels show the strengths and weaknesses of community living. Toni Morrison creates an example of the African American village and the power of motherly influence in a child's life.
Recommended Citation
Saleem, Taqwaa Falaq, "The Village Mother in Selected Works of Toni Morrison" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 180.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/180
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
