This paper aims at exploring the dichotomy of self and other, and what each of these actually mean. I would begin with a general presentation of the major points that mark the novel. Then, I shall shift to philosophical explanations of self and other based on two critical angles: androcentrism (i.e. David Hume, Emanuel Kant and Durkheim) and feminism (i.e. Julia Kristeva and Simone de Beauvoir). I am eventually positioning the debate on the narrative platform, as being an arena of tension between central self and peripheral other.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Keywords
Objectives & Research Themes
This paper explores the dichotomy of the self and the other, analyzing how these concepts are constructed and perceived within Toni Morrison's novel Sula. By positioning the narrative as a site of tension between a central self and a peripheral other, the author investigates how feminist and philosophical frameworks challenge traditional, androcentric definitions of identity and autonomy.
- The intersection of philosophical definitions of the "self" and feminist critiques of these frameworks.
- The characterization of Sula as an "uncanny" figure who challenges societal norms.
- The impact of patriarchal structures on female identity and selfhood.
- The role of language and social interaction in the construction and negotiation of personal identity.
Excerpt from the Book
The Construction of the Other in Androcentric Philosophy
In the name of self, he is the legislator, the bondsman, whereas any personification of the other, i.e. ailing, elderly, penurious or female individuals, are in a state of slavery-oriented servitude. In this regard, why is it crucial to reconceptualize the concept of self? Feminists present two major reasons as a response: "To account for the residual potency of this form of prejudice, feminists urge, the self must be understood as socially situated and murkily heterogeneous. To account for the self's ability to discern and resist culturally normative prejudice, the moral subject must not be reduced to the capacity for reason." (Stanford Encyclopedia of philosophy)
The second matter that feminist critical work centers around is the reclamation of women’s selfhood. Just four or five centuries ago, woman’s rights were considerably restrained. Housework, birth giving and farm work were substantially prevailing among women; bearing in mind that they did not have a choice in such matters. In fact, in a kind of reductio ad absurdum, they had to do their job, or they otherwise went to jail or worse faced capital punishment; they had no protection, neither from the law, nor from their families. For the sake of example, the wife’s loss of her family name and reclaiming her husband’s is a testifier to revoking her personal identity. Furthermore, the law deprived her of assuming heritage from her dead kindred and gave the right to her husband to hold possession of her earnings. Rape, beating and psychological torture did not count as crimes. In one word, the female subaltern was the sub-citizen, the marginalized other, who was represented by her husband, father or brother.
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides a brief overview of the paper's aim to explore the self/other dichotomy through the lens of androcentrism and feminism within the context of Toni Morrison's Sula.
Keywords: Lists the essential terminology used to frame the analysis, including Sula, feminism, and personal identity.
Keywords
Sula, Toni Morrison, Uncanny, Ego, Self, Other, Subaltern, Feminism, Androcentric philosophers, Machismo, Personal identity, Autonomy, Gender, Identity, Social construction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the dichotomy between the "self" and the "other," specifically exploring how Toni Morrison’s Sula represents these concepts and challenges traditional philosophical interpretations.
Which theoretical perspectives are utilized to analyze the novel?
The author uses two primary critical lenses: androcentric philosophy (referencing thinkers like Hume, Kant, and Durkheim) and feminist philosophy (referencing thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and Julia Kristeva).
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to position the novel as an arena of tension where the protagonist, Sula, disrupts the traditional, patriarchal understanding of the self and asserts her own identity.
What methodology does the author employ?
The study employs a qualitative, literary-philosophical approach, reconciling textual analysis of the novel with broader philosophical and socio-historical theories regarding identity and gender.
What does the main body of the text address?
The body covers the historical transition to modernity, the systematic subordination of women, the reclamation of female selfhood through separatist practices and autonomy, and the role of language in constructing identity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Sula, Toni Morrison, the Uncanny, Self/Other dichotomy, Feminism, Subalternity, and Personal Identity.
How does the author interpret Sula's actions in the context of the "other"?
The author views Sula’s defiance of communal norms as an attempt to reject her status as a peripheral "other" and establish a new, independent sense of self.
Why is the concept of "modality" significant in the analysis?
The author uses the concept of modality, as defined by Kress and Hodge, to analyze the power dynamics in dialogues where Sula questions the definition of "manhood" and asserts her own agency.
In what way does the environment of "the Bottom" affect the characters?
The Bottom represents a community bound by traditional, rigid conventions; Sula’s inability to integrate into this environment is interpreted as a direct result of her refusal to conform to these gendered and social expectations.
- Quote paper
- Imad Guemmah (Author), 2010, "Sula" as the Uncanny and the Evocation of the Other, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/276583
