| dc.description.abstract | Our study based on "The male character by the female writers", namely Mariama Ba (Une Si Longue Lettre) and Aminata Sow Fall (L'Appel des arenes), was carried out with the aim of determining the portrait of the male character as presented by the two female writers. This study until now left un tackled is however necessary for two main reasons: first of all, as is clearly seen from the summary of critiques, studies carried out on these two novels take only female characters into consideration whereas other male characters exist and these should be studied to give a comprehensive understanding of the books. Secondly, as show by studies carried out on the two novels, the female character has undergone a change, and it is thus logical to assume that the male character has equally undergone some change.
We are therefore formulating the hypotheses that Ba and Fall are proposing a particular image of the male in their works and that they are questioning the superiority of the male in their novels.
In order to carry out this study we based it on psychoanalysis and feminise; we have also analysed the novels from a sociological point of view. Where these theories have proved inadequate in explaining the given situations, we have gone further and proposed explanations following the general parameters of these theories.
Following these three approaches, we explained the texts and we came up with certain results and conclusions. In the first chapter, we show how the boy since birth is given special treatment that leads him to believe that he is superior to the girl for the rest of his life. In the second chapter we saw how the man is evaluated according to his role as a leader in society, in the house and by his material contribution to society. He is not presented from an aesthetic point of view, i.e he is neither handsome nor ugly. In the last chapter we saw how the man is made important in all aspects: social, economic, political and intellectual. It is in this same chapter that the superior position of the man is put in question. Bfi and Fall give the portrait of the new man; one who considers the woman as his equal. It is interesting to note that it is through the young generation that this attitude of the new man is manifested. On the other hand the writers contempt for the traditional male is seen through the death and humiliation that they inflict on the male adults who do not adapt to the new situation.
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Following this study, we have certain observations and recommendations to make. In Ba's book there are some hesitations concerning the questioning of the man's superiority as shown by the young Aissatou and her fiance. Ba does not take a clear stand concerning Aissatou and her fiance's independence and yet she considers them "representatives of the future". These hesitations lead us to wonder what Ba's objectives are. Could it be for her a simple reflection of the Senegalese society or does she seek to change its social norms? Such questions give us a basis for a follow up to our work.
Fall, on the other hand, leaves Diattou (the wife of the new type of man) mad; could this mean that that the man in relation to the woman has a higher capacity to adapt than the woman? This again is a question that is worth examining further. | en |
