Morrison‘s Jazz and Beloved: Sense of Cultural Loss
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Department of English
Abstract
Toni Morrison, in Jazz and Beloved, exposes injustices, restlessness
and loss felt by the Black people. She also tries to create the cultural identity
of the Black community. Her characters, who feel themselves being
victimized in White dominated society, struggle hard for new identity
challenging the system of segregation and slavery. Both the protagonists Joe
and Sethe in Jazz and Beloved, respectively express their repressed desires by
killing Dorcas and Beloved due to fear, suspicion and frustration created by
the White dominated society. Such situation leads to the loss of life, liberty
and pursuit of happiness in African American cultural. Morrison does not
lament only in such situation but she is also hopeful that a distinct identity
will be created through music and art.