5 February 2013
English 101 9:30 TR
Essay 1 revision
“Roselily” Response Essay
“Roselily”, written by Alice Walker, is a story about an African American woman that is getting married to a Muslim. As the preacher was going through the normal wedding rituals she reflected back on her past and the past of African Americans in general. Roselily thought about how her new life would be with her new man and wondered if her children would like him and get along with him. Roselily was also worried about moving and uprooting her family to a new, strange place. Roselily knew that she and her soon to husband would definitely have conflicting religious ideas, and she is not too happy about having to sit with a covered face in his place of worship. My favorite part though is when the preacher says, “to join this man and this woman”. The way Roselily thought of it as being bound and tied like a slave as her ancestors had been is just great, vivid description, and I can just picture Roselily and her man tied and bound together for the rest of their lives. I feel Roselily referred to her husband as nothing more than a ball and chain when she thought this.
I also believe that Roselily only married this man because she felt that it was necessary. Roselily knew that he could and would provide for her and her family to the best of his abilities. Roselily also thought about how much she just wanted to rest and just stay at home. All day long Roselily had to sew workingmen’s garments. She felt that there must be more to life than what she experienced on an everyday basis. Another good point Roselily makes is when she thinks that even though African Americans had been freed a long time ago, she was still a slave but just one that got paid for her work. Roselily thinks about how if she stayed at home and got rested that she would have to find something else to occupy her time. So, Roselily came to the conclusion that they can just start making babies, and