| dc.description.abstract | This thesis is entitled “THE USE OF THE LETTER FORM AND SATIRE IN THE TREATMENT OF GENDER ISSUES IN ALICE WALKER’S THE COLOR PURPLE AND MARIAMA BA’S SO LONG A LETTER.” It examines gender issues and literary technique of “satire” and “letter form” in relation to the main themes of women’s subjugation.
In this thesis, I assert that although the two texts studied are set in different societies, not only the issues addressed are identical, “gender inequality”, but also the mode of presentation in a “letter form” and the stylistic device of “satire” employed by the two authors are peculiar to both. I have demonstrated that the subjugation of women is a common theme in many societies by showing an additional perception of the Japanese traditions illustrated in Japanese literature, particularly in Japanese poems written by the first feminist poet, Akiko Yosano.
The statement of the research problem is that the images of women in literature are worth critical attention as these images reflect the ideas which society has towards women. Since literature was men’s writing traditionally, it was male writers portraying the women in their writings. Gradually, female writers started to write about women from their point of view and try to tell their own stories. Due to the difference in the social, economic and political status and its implications, it is inevitable that men’s and women’s perceptions of gender roles is different. Therefore, it is my conviction that women’s problems as depicted by female writers will make us understand the plight of women much better than those depicted by male writers. My task has been to discover what the technique of “letter form” and
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“satire” of both works portend in relation to the main themes bordering on segregation of women.
The objective of this study is to analyse thematically and stylistically the main texts, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter. In a bid to facilitate comprehension of the concept of women’s place, I have tried to look at the societies in which the two books are written, The Color Purple being a product of Christian culture, So Long a Letter being that of Islam.
For the theoretical framework, I have applied the feminist theory; the liberal school of feminism and radical school of feminism, as well as the sociological theory. Both writers are feminist writers who address the gender issues to protest against the ‘male dominating’ interpretation and reflection, where female characters are portrayed so unfavourably as deserving nothing. “Subjugation of women” is a social problem and we can see that the feminist theory and sociological theory are heavily intertwined.
The liberal school of feminism has tended to accept the basic structures of existing political and economic institutions, demanding the need to make them accessible to women. Although Mariama Ba supports the idea that marriage should not hinder any women’s career, she believes in old values as well as marriage and family values. Thus, Mariama Ba is a liberal feminist.
Radical school feminism defines the oppression of women as a fundamental political oppression, wherein women are categorized as an inferior class based upon their biologicai/sex differences. They see that the liberation of women will ultimately mean the liberation of men from their distinctive role as the oppressor. They claim that the oppression of women is manifested in particular institutions, constituted and maintained to keep women in their place. Such institutions are marriage, motherhood, love and sexual intercourse. Some radical feminists have argued that lesbianism is an natural reaction for the battered women to gain self-respect and love in a misogynic culture. Although Alice Walker approaches this topic, she maintains family values and the heterosexual relationship. Thus, Alice Walker is in between a radical and liberal feminist.
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I have dealt with my findings extensively in chapter four under the title “A comparison of theme and style in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter” in relation to the themes, as well as to the use of the technique of letter and satire.
Whereas the similarities of the main themes are 1) women as lesser human beings, sex objects and reproductive machines, 2) forced marriage by parents guardians or wife inheritance by islam religion, 3) betrayal by men, 4) fatalists, 5) religion and its role in the perpetuation of the gender related stereo-types, 6) concept of the new woman and the struggle for liberation, the most evident dissimilarities are expressed in 1) racism, 2) violence, in The Color Purple. In the southern state of USA, Georgia, a black woman faces double subjugation being a woman and a black person in a feudal and racial economic system based upon agriculture.
Both works are presented in a letter form which allows the writers total 1 freedom’ of speech, style and expression, creating an eavesdropping speaking voice and narration. Because of this confidential and intimate manner without being castigated, the writers can let out their heart- felt burning issues in total secrecy and their outcry penetrates the readers’ mind so movingly.
Satire is employed by the two writers to criticize wrong human behaviour. Satire is to expose human follies and wickedness to ridicule; with the ultimate intention to reform them. It employs certain elements such as irony, sarcasm, comedy, humour, burlesque and wit.
In conclusion, whilst Alice Walker’s The Color Purple deals with racism, violence, the strength of the black folk’s community which shares the burden of community members, the creativity of black men and women (quilting, sewing), the reunion of lovers, friends and families, and the straightforwardness of Afro- America’s communal folk language, Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter focuses particularly on the outlook for the future of the country, Senegal. Both writers argue that the success of women’s struggle can only be attained if men are also prepared to be educated on how to change. In addition to the women portrayed in the main texts, I have also brought an example of Japanese women as portrayed in various Japanese
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literary works, in order to prove that gender issues are common themes in different societies with different religions | en_US |
