DIGITA

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TION

BY :

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THE BELOVED

By Toni Morrison

Begins in 1873 in Cincinnati, Ohio

Themes include:

Destruction of Identity Brought About By Slavery

Importance of Community Solidarity

Colors of the Red Spectrum carry out many different meanings

Trees symbolize healing, comfort, and life in addition to the horrors of lynching

SLAVERY’S DESTRUCTION OF IDENTITY

Morrison tries to bring about the side effects of slavery on current + former slaves

Characters are treated in a inhumane mannor and as commodities that are represented by $ signs.

As a result slaves incorporated a loss of self dignity and individuality as it pertains to the meaning of life

CONT.

Paul D beats up on himself emotionally to seek protection from the emotional pain he was living through

Jackson Till, Aunt Phyllis, and Halle go insane and lose all senses of self identity

Slavery brings about a sense of insanity in the actions of the whites

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY

The individuals need the structure of their communities as a necessity to survive

At the end of the story the black community gathered at 124 to exorcise Beloved; they consequently freed themselves from their disturbed past and become one again

THE COLORS OF THE RED SPECTRUM

Carry out many different meanings

Amy Denver’s Red Velvet

Paul D’s “Red Heart”

The Red Roses That Lie Along the Road to The Carnival

The Red Rooster

TREES

Portray healing, comfort, and life

Beautiful Trees of Sweet Home disguise the horrors brought about by the plantation on Sethe’s memory.

Paul D finds freedom by following the trees to the North

Sethe finds her freedom by escaping through the forest

However the trees also hold a connection to a dark side as well

TONI MORRISON

Originally named Chloe Wofford

Born Febuary 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio

Family moved to Ohio from South to escape racism

From her father, Chloe gained a bad perspective on whites and didn’t trust any of them

First black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature

“THE COLOR PURPLE”

By Alice Walker

Published in 1982; covers the first half of the 20th century

Theme Includes:

Cyclical Nature of Racism and Sexism

Bright Colors bring about different characteristics + “The Color Purple”

Sewing Quilts Bring About Aspects of Unity

THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF RACISM AND SEXISM

Walker portrays the whites as victims of their own violence

Main point is that racism and slavery changes people and makes them lose their connections to morality

Without racism and slavery people sit back and reexamine their ways and become a more sensual person

BRIGHT COLORS

Carry many different characters of symbolism

Author provides usage of color as sign of renewal and rebirth

Mr.____’s transformation is symbolized by him painting the interior of his house in “fresh white” to symbolize a new beginning

“THE COLOR PURPLE” SYMBOLIZES…

“The Color Purple” has a strong connection to the power that women can obtain from directing their creativeness towards something

SEWING QUILTS

The quilt is compromised of different diverse patterns

Brings about the importance of different and diverse people coming together to find unity

Celie changes her perception of sewing from unimportant women’s work to a important and powerful source of economic independence

ALICE WALKER

Born on February 9th, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia

Mother set an example of generosity by supporting children whose family couldn’t care for them

Had to live with Jim Crow Laws

A white plantation owner said to her

“black people had no need for education”

SIMILARITIES

Both of these novels have to deal with racism, slavery, and bring about inhumane gestures

They both use colors to portray symbolism (red color spectrum and bright colors)

They both use visual images to portray symbolism (Quilts and Trees)

They both end in a process of healing and unity

CONT.

Both of the authors lived in times where racism was still a part of the South’s way of life

They had negative point’s of view on the white’s through fatherly figures or remarks made towards them

They made it through their hardships and became successful writers.