The missing factor: Explorations of masculinities in the works of Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich, Maxine Hong Kingston and Joyce Carol Oates

This study is a critical analysis of the complexities and diversities of male practice as represented in the works of four selected writers—each of whom deal innovatively with the issues of manhood and masculinity in their portrayal of male characters.; Using Sula (1974) and Beloved (1987) by Toni Morrison, China Men (1976) and Woman Warrior (1980) by Maxine Hong Kingston, Love Medicine (1993) and Beet Queen (1987) by Louise Erdrich, Wonderland (1979) and American Appetites (1990) by Joyce Carol Oates, this dissertation goes beyond traditional gender categories to examine the complicated workings of race and class in shaping specific masculinities in the contexts of the works of these writers from different cultural backgrounds. These writers concern themselves not only with mainstream masculinities, but most importantly, they address the different kinds of masculinities that are often unacknowledged and unaccounted for because they fall outside the pale of traditional or “hegemonic” manliness. Their works also highlight the issue of male characters who function as “other” to societal norms, thus creating new and emergent forms of masculinities.; The study draws on the theoretical work of those few critics who have pioneered studies on the representations of masculinities in order to increase our understanding not only of how masculinities are constructed, but also of the new directions that multicultural feminist writers are taking in their engagement with issues of masculinities and their impact on society. Finally, this study of masculinities hopefully, takes us closer to understanding the roots of male powerlessness and frustrations that have led to so much violence in present-day American society.