The Ideology of Toni Morrison

The analysis on the black female charac-‐ ter of Sula written by Toni Morrison (born 1931) using feminist criticism as the frame of analysis shows that Sula, the black female fictional character, is a rep-‐ resentation of black feminist ideas. She is

a daring female who based on her lived experience constructs her personal

Sula’s Existential Freedom ... (Ratna Asmarani)

opinion on the existential freedom and is happen to Ajax. He is free to live his life brave enough to apply it on her social

as he wants.

life. Through what happens to Sula, her Through Sula, Toni Morrison trans-‐

black fictional character, Toni Morrison mits her ideology of feminism, especially

reminds the readers that a black wom-‐ black feminism. Toni Morrison conveys

an’s struggle to lead her own life is im-‐ her idea that a black woman should have

possible to be realized if it is not sup-‐ critical opinion on her own existence.

ported by other black women. In other The lived experience should make a

words, personal struggle will be easily black woman dare to construct her own

castrated. Black women must unite to concept concerning what she wants to

face the patriarchal ideology if they want do with her own existence. A black wom-‐

to have their own free existence. How-‐ an should also have the courage to voice

ever, Toni Morrison implied that every-‐ her decision about her own life. How-‐

thing in extreme is not good. Sula’s ex-‐ ever, Toni Morrison also warns about

treme application of her concept of exis-‐ the persisting patriarchal ideology.

tential freedom in the form of legalizing Toni Morrison does not ignore the

free sexual life even with married men fact that patriarchal ideology is still lurk-‐

and carrying it out in a despising manner ing under many disguises to hinder a

is terminated by the death of her phys-‐ black critical woman to progress. In Sula,

ical existence. This is how Toni Morrison she shows that one of the forms of the

punishes her fictional character who is patriarchal ideology is the existential

out of the track. At the same Toni backlash. This kind of backlash is always

Morrison also reminds the readers not to ready to castrate any progress made by a

carry out the idea of black feminism ac-‐ black woman whether on the physical,

cording to one’s whim against any rule psychological, or sociological level. Toni

because the result is chaos not harmony. Morrison also portrays the irony that the

Black feminism aims at a harmonious supporters of existential backlash are

existence in which black men and black not only the male gender, but also the

women respect and empower each female gender and they may have a close

other.

and or blood relation with the targeted black woman.

CONCLUSION

In other words, Toni Morrison The novel entitled Sula written by Toni makes the readers aware that it is diffi-‐

Morrison contains the idea that it is not cult for a black woman to construct her

easy for a woman to construct, to keep, own existence, it is more difficult to voice

and/or to apply her critical opinion con-‐ it, and it is most difficult to apply it.

cerning her existential freedom. A wom-‐ Patriarchal ideology permeating in every

an may be able to construct in her mind aspect and layer of life gives no space for

what she really wants in her existence.

a critical black woman to, borrowing She also may be able to keep her critical Sula’s defiant words to her grandmother,

opinion in her mind. However, once she “make myself” (Morrison, 1973:92).

tries to express and/or practise her criti-‐ However, it is easier for a black man to

cal opinion concerning her existential follow the kind of life he has chosen for

freedom, she has to face so various exis-‐ himself, as in the case of Ajax, the male

tential backlashes. Sula in Toni version of Sula. No social criticism, no

Morrison’s Sula is a good example. social punishment, and no social exile

The way Sula is brought up and the surrounding environment inspire her to

ATAVISME, Vol. 17, No. 1, Edisi Juni 2014:121—133

become strong-‐willed, free, and critical. relative or friend, or wider-‐circle people However, her grandmother who was

such as members of the community. Be-‐ daring and unconventional when she

sides that, the doers of the backlashes was young, is now the first and the

can be men or women themselves. In strongest opponent. Turning out to be

brief, existential backlashes have various mellow and to follow the conventions

facets so that they are too difficult to be with the passing of time, the grand-‐

handled by a single woman, no matter mother, with all effort, tries to domes-‐

how strong-‐willed or prepared she is. ticize Sula by reminding her the gender roles that she is supposed to bear. Her close female friend, who understood her

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The Ideology of Toni Morrison