Toni Morrison Tickets

Literature
Toni Morrison was an acclaimed African American author and Nobel Laureate in Literature. Her work is often characterized by her focus on the complexities of black identity and the experience of racism, as well as her experimental narrative techniques. While she may not have directly drawn from classical literature in her writing, the influence and relevance of classical themes and motifs can be seen throughout her work.

In her debut novel, “The Bluest Eye”, Morrison explores the destructive effects of racism on the individual psyche. Set in the 1940s, the novel follows the life of a young black girl named Pecola Breedlove, who longs for blue eyes in hopes of being seen as beautiful and loved. This desire is reminiscent of the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection and ultimately withered away. The story of Narcissus speaks to the harmful effects of self-absorption and the danger of valuing external beauty over inner worth. Similarly, Pecola's obsession with blue eyes represents a dangerous fixation on a Eurocentric standard of beauty, which has been imposed upon her by a racist society.

Another one of Morrison's most famous works, "Beloved", is based on the true story of Margaret Garner, a slave who escaped bondage but later killed her own child to prevent her from being returned to slavery. Through the character of Garner, Morrison challenges the idea that motherhood is instinctual and universal. Instead, she presents motherhood as a burden forced upon black women under slavery and white patriarchal society. The tragic loss of a child and the trauma caused by slavery echo the myths of Demeter's search for her daughter Persephone and Niobe's mourning for her children. These classical stories reveal the emotional agony inflicted upon mothers who lose their children or are unable to protect them.

Morrison's writing is also known for its innovative narrative techniques, which often involve non-linear storytelling and the use of multiple narrators. In her novel "Jazz", which is set in Harlem during the 1920s, Morrison employs a stream-of-consciousness technique that is reminiscent of James Joyce's “Ulysses”. She also draws from the classical idea of the Fates, three sister-goddesses who control human destiny, and illustrates how the choices made by individuals determine their fate. The theme of predestination vs. free will explored in classical literature can also be seen in Morrison's work.

In conclusion, while Morrison did not directly draw from classical literature in her writing, its influence can be seen throughout her work. The themes of beauty, motherhood, fate and destiny, and self-absorption are present in both classical and Morrison's literature. Morrison's experimental narrative techniques, inspired by modernist authors such as Joyce, invite the reader to explore the inner lives of her characters and to question societal norms. Overall, the relevance of her work to the canon of classical literature lies in her exploration of universal themes through the prism of black female experience and consciousness.