An evaluation of the problematics of identity in Toni Morrison's Paradise in the light of postcolonial studies

Toni Morrison's novel Paradise can be considered as an important work in the context of postcolonial criticism. Postcolonialism is a critical approach to the cultural legacies of colonialism and imperialism that examines the relationship between colonizer and colonized in literature, the effects of colonization on individuals and societies, as well as how these effects are negotiated and points of resistance. Postcolonial literary works address themes such as identity, cultural hybridity, power relations, and the effects of colonization on language and culture, providing a platform for voices that have historically been silenced and marginalized. Toni Morrison is one of the most important postcolonial writers of the twentieth century to explore African American experiences and history in literary depth. In her work, she questions race, identity and power relations and criticizes the dominant Western narrative. Morrison's novel Paradise is remarkable from a postcolonial perspective, especially in terms of questioning identity, social exclusion, historical trauma and hierarchical structures within the community. The novel takes place in a town called Ruby, which is run entirely by black men, and deals with the oppression of the women there. Morrison questions how internal oppression and authoritarian structures are reproduced in post-colonial societies by showing how the protective and conservative attitude developed by the men of the town towards the outside world turns into a mechanism of domination inside. Paradise challenges the idea of a fixed, essentialized identity and emphasizes the complexity and fluidity of individual and collective identities. Morrison demonstrates the contradictions of post-colonial identity formation processes by showing how the builders of the town of Ruby, despite having once escaped white oppression, have established a similar domination within themselves. In this context, Paradise is a testament to the power of literature to challenge dominant narratives and shed light on the experiences of marginalized groups. In this context, the aim of this thesis is to evaluate Toni Morrison's Paradise in the context of postcolonial studies and to examine how identity, domination, community dynamics and postcolonial trauma are reflected in the narrative of the novel. Key Words : Postcolony, Identity, Racism, Colonialism, African American. Quantity of Page : xi+101 Advisor : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Süleyman KASAP