Abstract:Toni Morrison, the first black woman winner of Nobel Prize for literature in 1993. Beloved is one of her chief works, which is considered to be her best novel. In this thesis, a brief introduction is made on Tony Morrison's life and the main contents of Beloved, as well as her writing characteristics and plot settings. Based on the setting of plot and contemporary background, the alienation of African-Americans is discussed and self-values reconstruction of African-Americans in the future are analyzed. This paper finds out that African-Americans are in the oppression by varying degrees of twisted mind, in sex, self value and social identity. Alienation in these aspects becomes more and more serious. Also, this paper discusses the importance of their value-reconstruction, referring to the human instinct for freedom, equality, and harmony of life. They fight for the future and won’t be stopped.

Key words: Toni Morrison; Beloved; African-American; values

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

1.1 Toni Morrison and Beloved

1.2 A Brief Literature Review of Beloved 

2. The Alienation of the Values of African Americans in Beloved  . .2

2.1 The Alienation in Sex

2.2 The Alienation in Self-value

2.3 The Alienation in Social Identity

3. African American’s Value-reconstruction4

3.1 Causes of Value-reconstruction

3.2 The Pursuit of Ideal Values

3.3 The Pursuit of Freedom

4. Conclusion7

Bibliography.8

Acknowledgements9