토니 모리슨의 『빌러비드』에 나타난 노예제 비판

Abstract

This thesis analyzes Toni Morrison's Beloved focusing on the destruction of human sensibility which was caused by slavery. I examine the ways in which slavery damages human sensibility while destroying everyday lives of both black and white people such as Sethe, protagonist of the novel, Paul D, Denver, Garner, and the school teacher. Slavery causes Sethe to have a distorted concept of maternity and leads the school teacher, an outright racist, to deny humanity (not only slaves' but his own). Garner, a seemingly generous slaveholder, displays superficial kindness while denying the humanity of slaves. Although slavery has been officially abolished, it has left traumatic memories that still affect African Americans' lives. The novel implies that, instead of trying to forget the unforgettable, one can recover from the traumatic effects of slavery through "re-memory" by remembering or re-visiting a memory. Morrison points out that active participation in society and reconciliation with white Americans are essential for African Americans who are still suffering from the dark legacy of slavery.