Date of Graduation

5-2026

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Advisor(s)

Angela Alaimo O’Donnell

Abstract

Religion was a powerful shaping force in Toni Morrison’s life, so it should come as little surprise that it shaped her art, as well. From the personal to the academic, her religious experiences deeply inspired her writing, and the spiritual dimension of her work has become a prominent topic among Morrison scholars. Despite a vast body of research dedicated to the religious in her novels, the prevalence of Catholic themes in Morrison’s novels remains largely unexplored. Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison grew up surrounded by different faith traditions. Her mother belonged to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, but members of her extended family were Catholic and introduced her to the faith. At the age of 12, Morrison converted to Catholicism and took the confirmation name “Anthony” after Saint Anthony of Padua (NPR “‘I Regret Everything’”). While in college, she shortened the moniker to Toni and adopted it broadly. It is this name, Toni, that appears on the spines of her novels, which have sold millions of copies.

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