A Study of Alienation in Toni Morrison's Love: Poverty, Patriarchal Institution of Marriage and Female Friendship

Abstract

This paper analyses the theme of mutual female bonding of black women in Toni Morrison's novel Love (2003). Sisterhood might be a weapon against alienation experienced by black women created by various factors as racial, gender and class injustices. However, this female friendship of black women in Morrison suffers a serious setback and changes into an alienated relationship in the long run because of powerful temptations under the canopy of the patriarchal structure of marriage and class strata. While highlighting the healing power of female companionship which may allow women to survive in the face of challenges and injustices, this study brings forth an argument that this female friendship is ultimately damaged by explicit or implicit patriarchal forces working under the platform of social institutions of marriage and class. Through this failed female friendship, Morrison warns her female readers to be on guard against the omnipresent fatal patriarchal forces in operation against them.