##arison Of Feminism In The Color Lod And Toni Morrisons...

According to A Brief Introduction to Critical Theory, â€Å"Feminism embodies a way of reading that investigates the test’s investment in or reaction to patriarchal power structures that have dominated Western culture† (226). Women were expected to conform to the traditional gender norms created by society. However, Toni Morrison’s Beloved takes place in 1837 and tells about a former slave, Sethe, the protagonist, who escapes slavery and goes to Cincinnati, Ohio. In the midst of her escape, Sethe makes the choice to kill her young daughter, Beloved, in order to save her from a life of slavery. Sethe is haunted by the memories of slavery through her deceased daughter. Sethe is depicted as a woman who is independent, strong, and able to make†¦show more content†¦By escaping, it keeps her family together and prevented from her children being separated from her. According to Nancy L. Chick’s article, â€Å"Toni Morrison: Overview† writes, â₠¬Å"She [Sethe was] determined to escape North to shield her family†¦ and prevent her separation and estrangement from her children, the typical fate of slave families† (Par 8). Mothers were usually separated from their children, so in order to avoid that she makes the decision to escape. Another example would be when Sethe kills her daughter, Beloved, so she would not have to endure a life of slavery. Sethe’s choice was her way of refusing to comply and to protect her children from the life she lived. Nancy L. Chick also writes, â€Å"After escaping, she [Sethe] sliced her baby girl’s throat to prevent her from suffering the same violence that Sethe experienced as a female slave† (Par 8). By killing her daughter, she was protecting her from having to face what she faced. Sethe is also the provider of the family. She works in order to bring home food for herself, Denver, and Paul D. â€Å"The rest I brought back from where I work. Least I can do, cooking from dawn to noon, is bring dinner home† (16). She assumes the masculine role by being the sole provider for the family. In order to bring home food she works as a cook which shows that she is self-sufficient. She does not need to rely on a man to provide for her and her daughter, Denver, when she is capable