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Hurston Vs. Morrison
Qualities of African American Literature
Freedom and Equality, Racism, Slavery, A Sense of Home
Slang, Gospel Music, Blues, Rap, Religion, African American Culture
are all qualities found in African American Literature
Princeton University professor Albert J. Raboteau has said African American literature, "speaks to the deeper meaning of the African-American presence in this nation.
This presence has always been a test case of the nation's claims to freedom, democracy, equality, the inclusiveness of all."
Gender Criticism
stemmed from feminist literary criticism, however it focuses on the construction of gender and sexuality
This school of criticism contains sub categories that reveal the complexity of gender criticism within society
These subcategories include feminist criticism and gay and lesbian criticism.
Feminist criticism is a vital aspect of gender criticism
It sheds light on how women are portrayed in literature and their roles within such writings.
Furthermore,
Gender criticism focuses on the relationship between men and women within various cultures and societies.
Through gender criticism, readers are able to further define what is regarded as masculine and feminine.
Beloved, written by Toni Morrison in 1987
is a novel that is set in rural Ohio several years after the Civil War.
The novel expresses important qualities of African American Literature such as slavery, racism, and a sense of home.
Beloved is based on how traumatic experiences of slavery haunt a group of former slaves.
Sethe, the main character, yearns for a sense of place.
However,
her experience of slavery leaves her feeling lonely and unworthy of owning a home.
Also,
beloved expresses gender roles around Sethe’s experiences
Morrison portrays women as objects rather than a person of equal rights.
This is clearly shown when White landowners assault and abuse Sethe
Furthermore
Sethe portrays obvious aspects of femininity through maternal love for her children.
Sethe is willing to do anything for her children to keep them safe.
That includes killing her youngest daughter, Beloved, to save her from a life of slavery.
The Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Hurston is a 1937 novel
that was revolutionary for its time period.
Even though it wasn't critically recognized until the 1970ś by Alice Walker
the novel is full of elements of African American Literature that shows the culture and societal values at the time the book was written.
And at the same time, we can also see aspects of gender issues present
Mrs. Hurston shows this point to her audience because during the 1930ś because the US was experiencing job discrimination, racism, and sexism.
Freedom and equality is a major
quality of
of the African American literature elements
that Zora Hurston uses to write her novel.
This can be seen throughout the novel but especially when Janie leaves the plantation
in the search of love
Hurston’s novel incorporates gender issues and prominent African American qualities.
Hurston vs. Morrison
Similarities for African American Qualities:
Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God have more similarities than differences.
Both Hurston and Morrison employ slang as a comment on African American culture
and the evolution of the latter within society
Freedom and Equality are major themes that weigh heavily within both novels, as both Janie and Sethe strive for a sense of equality, be it gender or racial equality.
Both protagonists aim for their own versions of freedom.
Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God are similar in that they both touch on the subject of racism.
Characters within each novel experience discrimination because of their African descent.
The two novels are connected through their similar issues that help define African American literature.
Differences for African American Qualities
Morrison’s Beloved focuses on the issue of slavery has an intrinsic aspect within the novel
This is a vital part of African American history.
Their Eyes Were Watching God takes on the African American quality of searching for a home
in a more contemporary way through Janie’s various relationships with men,
God
nature, and herself.
Similarities for Gender Criticism:
Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God
contain female protagonists
who must overcome society’s stereotypes on women
Janie and Sethe deal with society’s definition of women as inferior to men
and available at any man’s disposal.
Both women are strong enough to surpass these assumptions.
Each protagonist shows this strength by doing what is best by her rather than society.
Differences for Gender Criticism:
Janie and Sethe are quite different in their experiences
with gender roles in society
Janie lives in a more contemporary time period where she is able to more easily find herself as a strong, independent woman.
Janie’s gender discrimination comes in the form of emotional abuse
Sethe’s more frequent and literal gender mistreatment puts her in a difficult situation.
As a female ex-slave, Sethe is weaker and more afraid than Janie to come into her own.
She is unable to completely defy man’s power over her as a woman.
Sethe deals with physical abuse when experiencing gender discrimination.
Works Cited