The Internal Battle of Jadine in Toni Morrison’s Tar Baby

Abstract

Toni Morrison is predominantly concerned with the problems encountered by black women in the racially oppressed environment in theUS.In Tar Baby, Morrison portrays the inner battle of a single woman, Jadine, to balance her optimistic white lifestyle with her African American heritage. This is the only novel of Morrison wherein white characters participate in the life of the black protagonist and play a vital role. Sydney and Ondine are shown as being generously employed by Valerian and Margaret Street, who gleefully take advantage of their little niece Jadine, the protagonist of the novel.