Module Six Journal
First, let me say, I have pondered how to answer this for some time now; after all, who cares about my research or interpretation of the novels, right? However, after hours of research and copious amounts of reading, I found that my interpretations of both Beloved and Bastard out of Carolina had changed since my initial reading. Upon first reading the novels, I only saw the superficial circumstances. For example, Beloved reflected slavery and Bastard out of Carolina relays the struggle of abuse. Boy, was I selling the authors short; Morrison and Allison wrote novels so much more complex than “slavery” and “abuse.”
Morrison details the horrible conditions that slaves in the 1860s faced, including being recaptured after receiving …show more content…
Throughout Bastard out of Carolina, Allison explicitly highlights prominent social issues of the 1950s such as, racism, misogyny, and male chauvinism. This is shown through Allison's portrayal of "Daddy Glen" as the "head of the household." Glen consistently reminds Anney that "these are my girls" (Allison 51), enforcing that he could and should discipline the girls, specifically Bone. Additionally, Anney has to bear Glen’s chauvinism, particularly where money is concerned. When Anney inherits money from her first husband's pension, he warns "now, don't you go sign none of those papers when I'm not here. I'm telling you, you don't know what they might be stealing from you. Let me handle it" (Allison 57).
Morrison’s Beloved brought about a cultural revolution. Her blunt description of slavery and the psychological effects that resulted from slavery enlighten readers of the harsh reality for many African Americans during and after the Civil War. Morrison redefined American cultural ideals by writing Beloved and expressing the thoughts and feelings of African Americans during a time period that many refused to acknowledge their existence, let alone care for their
First, let me say, I have pondered how to answer this for some time now; after all, who cares about my research or interpretation of the novels, right? However, after hours of research and copious amounts of reading, I found that my interpretations of both Beloved and Bastard out of Carolina had changed since my initial reading. Upon first reading the novels, I only saw the superficial circumstances. For example, Beloved reflected slavery and Bastard out of Carolina relays the struggle of abuse. Boy, was I selling the authors short; Morrison and Allison wrote novels so much more complex than “slavery” and “abuse.”
Morrison details the horrible conditions that slaves in the 1860s faced, including being recaptured after receiving …show more content…
Throughout Bastard out of Carolina, Allison explicitly highlights prominent social issues of the 1950s such as, racism, misogyny, and male chauvinism. This is shown through Allison's portrayal of "Daddy Glen" as the "head of the household." Glen consistently reminds Anney that "these are my girls" (Allison 51), enforcing that he could and should discipline the girls, specifically Bone. Additionally, Anney has to bear Glen’s chauvinism, particularly where money is concerned. When Anney inherits money from her first husband's pension, he warns "now, don't you go sign none of those papers when I'm not here. I'm telling you, you don't know what they might be stealing from you. Let me handle it" (Allison 57).
Morrison’s Beloved brought about a cultural revolution. Her blunt description of slavery and the psychological effects that resulted from slavery enlighten readers of the harsh reality for many African Americans during and after the Civil War. Morrison redefined American cultural ideals by writing Beloved and expressing the thoughts and feelings of African Americans during a time period that many refused to acknowledge their existence, let alone care for their