Bbattle for Identity in Toni Morrison’s Tar Baby

Abstract

Toni Morrison’s novels explore the life of African Americans who struggle in the midst of conflicting nature of African and American culture. This article projects the life of a modern black woman, Jadine in the novel Tar Baby, who imbibes the materialistic aspirations of the Western culture instead of withholding the ancestral heritage of her own clan.

Jadine’s education has opened doors to more avenues of life. She openly comments that she wants to be different kind of woman instead of bearing the traditional burdens of race. Her ambition to become a successful model is more important to her than listening to her aunt or recovering ancestral roots. She tries to run away from the responsibility of taking care of her aged aunt and uncle during their old age. In her struggle to attain an identity as a professional woman, she forsakes the feelings of motherhood and thereby becomes alienated among her own community.

Jadine’s relationship with her lover, Son, re-questions her attachment towards African masses. Morrison projects his true love towards African people and his perpetual struggle to bring about some positive change in the life of the people by being one among them. Morrison reiterates that education is vital for the emancipation of black woman but at the same time she should nourish the cultural values of her community and be a part of it so as to gain an identity and fulfillment.