Traces of the Past : Reclaiming Feminine and Maternal Identity in the Wake of Slavery, as Portrayed in the Novels Beloved and Jazz.

Abstract: Using Black feminist criticism, this study will examine the influence of the multifaceted yet simultaneous system of oppression on individuality and mutuality in the aftermath of slavery, as depicted in Toni Morrison’s works in Beloved and Jazz. Furthermore, this essay will explore the effects of the intersecting system of oppression on the characters’ identity formation. It will also investigate the influence of intersecting systems of oppression on the characters’ perception of motherhood. This study will highlight the ways in which Morrison’s two novels show how racism and sexism affect Black women’s maternal authority even after they have claimed ownership of themselves.