Abstract

Toni Morrison is one of the most important writers in modern American. She is also the first female black writer who wins Nobel Prize in literature. Beloved was written in 1987. Beloved is Morrison’s most influential masterpiece, it is also considered as one of the most influential classics in American contemporary literature. 

The paper uses Beloved’s heroine Sethe’s tragic experience as the main object, and researches the causes of Sethe’s tragic fate from some aspects, the society, the history, the family and the personality. Sethe chases for the maternal love, freedom and humanity, but it conflicts with the social reality. Through analyzing Sethe’s tragic fate, it is not difficult to find out that only in an equal and peaceful society, the black women can get the real freedom and independence. Only by reconstructing the relation of the black and their past, can the black women be rescued. With this understanding, Sethe’s tragedy also can apply equally to other oppressed people. The novel reveals Morrison’s worries and thoughts about women who are living in the margin, the thoughts are well worth while for modern women to ponder deeply. 

Key words: tragedy; society; history; family; personality

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature review-2

3 Reasons for Sethe’s tragedy.-3

3.1 Social and historical reasons-4

  3.1.1 Racial oppression-4

  3.1.2 Gender oppression-6

  3.2 Familial reasons-6

  3.3 Personalities’ reasons-8

4 Conclusion-11

References