Abstract: Toni Morrison, one of the most acclaimed African-American living writers, got her Nobel Prize for literature in 1993, it was the first time the prize given to a black woman writer，her master work Beloved has been regarded as a classic American literature. The thesis will focus on the study of black women’s awakening based upon the experience of three different generations of black female. Baby Suggs, as the first generation of female slaves to search for freedom, she realized the primary awakening though praying in the Clearing to call upon the black people to love and appreciate themselves; Sethe, as the second generation of female slaves to resist against social system, she took the extreme way of infanticide to safeguard her identity as a human and mother; Denver, as the third generation of female to build up self, she got the all-round awakening, from being a lonely and shy girl to becoming mature and living independently. Black women have undergone many obstacles to get both physical and spiritual free, and it’s the task of generations.

Key words: Beloved; Toni Morrison; self-consciousness; awakening

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Introduction-1

Chapter One   Baby Suggs-the First Generation of Female Slaves to Search for Freedom-3

1.1The Resignation of Life-3

1.2 The Searching for Freedom-4

Chapter two Sethe-the Second Generation of Female Slaves to Resist against Social System-6

2.1 Sethe’s Suffering-6

2.2 Sethe’s Protest-8

Chapter Three Denver-the Third Generation of Female to Build up Self-10

3.1 Denver’s Imprisonment to Her Own World-11

3.2 Denver’s Going Out for Help-12

Conclusion-13

Notes-15

Bibliography-16

Acknowledgments-17