Realization of Feminist Identity in Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and Alice Walker's "The Color Purple": A Perspective Based on Womanism

Abstract

This paper delves into the significant yet harrowing past of slavery as portrayed in two landmark novels, "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker. These seminal works explore the intimate and subjective narratives that bring to light the profound struggles faced by Black African women, unveiling their vulnerabilities both from external racial oppression and internal community conflicts. The research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing content and thematic analysis to examine the depth, complexity, and socio-cultural ramifications embedded within these literary texts. This approach enables a nuanced understanding of how these narratives articulate a feminist identity forged through confrontation with a hostile world, culminating in a profound expression of selfhood. The findings highlight how both novels disrupt traditional slave narratives by centering on the individual's traumatic experiences, their journey to liberation, and the subsequent disintegration of familial and marital ties. These stories not only connect to the legacy of slavery but also reimagine the lives of African women post-emancipation, emphasizing psychological over historical time, focusing predominantly on the internal lives of an impoverished black boy and a fugitive slave. The study concludes with suggestions for further research, proposing an examination of the broader implications of these narratives in contemporary feminist and postcolonial discourse.