Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"

The Case for Reparations

By Maureen E. Ruprecht Fadem | Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

About the book

Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\": The Case for Reparations is an inspired contribution to the scholarship on one of the most influential American novels and novelists. The author positions this contemporary classic as a meditation on historical justice and re-comprehends it as both a formal tragedy- a generic translation of fiction and tragedy or a \"novel-tragedy\" (Kliger)-and a novel of objects. Its many things-literary, conceptual, linguistic- are viewed as vessels carrying the (hi)story and the political concerns. From this, a third conclusion is drawn: Fadem argues for a view of Beloved as a case for reparations. That status is founded on two outstanding object lessons: the character of Beloved as embodiment of the subject-object relations defining the slave state and the grammatical object \"weather\" in the sentence \"The rest is...\" on the novel's final page. This intertextual reference places Beloved in a comparative link with Hamlet and Oresteia. Fadem's research is meticulous in engaging the full spectrum of tragedy theory, much critical theory, and a full swathe of scholarship on the novel. Few critics take up the matter of reparations, still fewer the politics of genre, craft, and form. This scholar posits Morrison's tragedy as constituting a searing critique of modernity, as composed through meaningful intertextualities and as crafted by profound \"thingly\" objects (Brown). Altogether, Fadem has divined a fascinating singular treatment of Beloved exploring the connections between form and craft together with critical historical and political implications. The book argues, finally, that this novel's first concern is justice, and its chief aim to serve as a clarion call for material- and not merely symbolic-reparations.

Editions of Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"

Hardcover
ISBN 9780367416195
EBook
ISBN 9781003105060

Read an Excerpt

Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\": The Case for Reparations is an inspired contribution to the scholarship on one of the most influential American novels and novelists. The author positions this contemporary classic as a meditation on historical justice and re-comprehends it as both a formal tragedy- a generic translation of fiction and tragedy or a \"novel-tragedy\" (Kliger)-and a novel of objects. Its many things-literary, conceptual, linguistic- are viewed as vessels carrying the (hi)story and the political concerns. From this, a third conclusion is drawn: Fadem argues for a view of Beloved as a case for reparations. That status is founded on two outstanding object lessons: the character of Beloved as embodiment of the subject-object relations defining the slave state and the grammatical object \"weather\" in the sentence \"The rest is...\" on the novel's final page. This intertextual reference places Beloved in a comparative link with Hamlet and Oresteia. Fadem's research is meticulous in engaging the full spectrum of tragedy theory, much critical theory, and a full swathe of scholarship on the novel. Few critics take up the matter of reparations, still fewer the politics of genre, craft, and form. This scholar posits Morrison's tragedy as constituting a searing critique of modernity, as composed through meaningful intertextualities and as crafted by profound \"thingly\" objects (Brown). Altogether, Fadem has divined a fascinating singular treatment of Beloved exploring the connections between form and craft together with critical historical and political implications. The book argues, finally, that this novel's first concern is justice, and its chief aim to serve as a clarion call for material- and not merely symbolic-reparations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\" about?

Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\": The Case for Reparations is an inspired contribution to the scholarship on one of the most influential American novels and novelists. The author positions this contemporary classic as a meditation on historical justice and re-comprehends it as both a formal tragedy- a generic translation of fiction and tragedy or a \"novel-tragedy\" (Kliger)-and a novel of objects. Its many things-literary, conceptual, linguistic- are viewed as vessels carrying the (hi)story and the political concerns. From this, a third conclusion is drawn: Fadem argues for a view of Beloved as a case for reparations. That status is founded on two outstanding object lessons: the character of Beloved as embodiment of the subject-object relations defining the slave state and the grammatical object \"weather\" in the sentence \"The rest is...\" on the novel's final page. This intertextual reference places Beloved in a comparative link with Hamlet and Oresteia. Fadem's research is meticulous in engaging the full spectrum of tragedy theory, much critical theory, and a full swathe of scholarship on the novel. Few critics take up the matter of reparations, still fewer the politics of genre, craft, and form. This scholar posits Morrison's tragedy as constituting a searing critique of modernity, as composed through meaningful intertextualities and as crafted by profound \"thingly\" objects (Brown). Altogether, Fadem has divined a fascinating singular treatment of Beloved exploring the connections between form and craft together with critical historical and political implications. The book argues, finally, that this novel's first concern is justice, and its chief aim to serve as a clarion call for material- and not merely symbolic-reparations.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism

Where can I read a sample of Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780367416195

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"?

Maureen E. Ruprecht Fadem

Who is the Publisher of the book Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\"?

Taylor & Francis Ltd

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Objects and Intertexts in Toni Morrison's \"Beloved\" is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780367416195) and ebook(ISBN 9781003105060)

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