Kennedy's Funnyhouse of a Negro: The features of a black woman's self-identity

케네디의 "니그로의 요술집": 흑인여성 자아의 양상

This paper argues how Adrienne Kennedy embodies the features of a black woman's self-identity in Funnyhouse of a Negro. An educated young black woman, Sarah lives in a funnyhouse which is surrounded by mirrors. The reflections in the funnyhouse's mirrors are a metaphor of a black woman's life in America. Sarah's narrative is played out by four "selves," differing by sex and race. These selves imply her mixed cultural heritage. Two white women symbolize white European royalty, Jesus expresses christianity which is the basis of western culture and Lumumba represents Africa. Sarah's desire for whiteness is concentrated on skin color and hair. She longs for pallid skin and straight hair of the white race. Sarah wanted to be white, but her "tainted blood" by her black father made that impossible. Sarah is always obsessed by the fear of her father and the unhappy destiny of her mother. Ceaseless knocking, paralyzed images of lifelessness and surreal dreams effectively show her fear. Sarah's selves remain fragmented in the funnyhouse. Sarah exposures the black woman's anger and frustration through her death. Her death is a gesture of denial and refusal of the dominant society. At the same time, it was her last choice and struggle not to completely lose her own identity.