Preview

So Long a Letter - Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1004 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
So Long a Letter - Essay
So long a letter.
How has the author depicted cultural and social aspects about gender through the characters in ‘So long a letter’?
Throughout the book Mariama Bâ has used Rich, poetic language. Feminism is one of the major themes in this book. Mariama Bâ used many situations all through the book to bring out the gender differences in the society and Senegalese culture. She brought out most of this through the main character: Ramatoulaye. Ramatoulaye is in the transitory generation, where there are many clashes between modernisation and traditionalism opinions. She shows both of these from the decisions that she takes in the book. This essay will talk about how the author showed cultural and social aspects about gender through the characters in ‘So long a letter’. The book is in from the point of view of Ramatoulaye, who is married to Modou. When Modou leaves Ramatoulaye for a younger woman the society and both culture allow this, without any accusations on the men. On the opposite side, if a married woman even looks at the man then the society would look down at the women and the culture wouldn’t allow this. When Modou Fall left Ramatoulaye for a younger woman, this is usually something wrong, but when he did this both the society and the culture accepted this. Though is the women would do the same thing, then both the society and culture would disagree with this type of decision. The culture states that men can marry more than once, and in the society this is a common practice. This is one of the examples that in which the author indicates the differences in gender, through both the culture and society. Another big issue that is brought out in this book, is how men can treat women in any way that they wish, but the women should always obey what the men says. It is almost like the women is a servant of the men, who can be told anything, and treated badly but still have to follow whatever the ‘master’ orders. Even though Modou left Ramatoulaye 5 years

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In Mali, the women’s role is to be confined to her home and yard. A Malian woman is first and foremost valued in her roles of spouse and mother. Placement into these family roles starts early; young girls are expected to help with housework and look after younger siblings. The women of Mali have arranged marriages from an early age. And even though they are arranged, the husbands are usually married to other women also. Irreconcilable differences like lack of communication, spousal incompatibility, and unhappiness between marriage partners are some of the things Monique complains about. She has more education…

    • 1153 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the role women and men play in certain societies. First, a novel by a Chinese novel, Anchee Min, is analyzed. The novel, Empress Orchid, is about the last emperor of China, Tung Chih. During the time in the Forbidden City, there was an obvious gap between males and females – the gender roles were significantly different. Another novel will then be introduced, Scarlet Song written by Mariama Ba. This book tells a love story about a Senegalese man and French woman. The different background of each of the lovers prevents a happy relationship and causes a tragedy. Finally, in order to contrast the gender roles of both novels to recent events and contemporary culture, the current gender roles in my native Brazil will be talked about in this research paper.…

    • 2608 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The following essay will analyse how gender is represented in the popular romance novels, by Mills and Boon.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    and identifies how gender roles or stereotypes are represented or challenged in a text. It is interested in how gender empowers or constrains characters in a text. HOW ARE MEN AND WOMEN OFTEN PORTRAYED DIFFERENTLY IN LITERATURE?…

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “It is possible, reading standard histories, to forget half the population of the country. The explorers were men, the landholders and merchants men, the political leaders men, the military figures men, the very invisibility of women, the overlooking of women, is a sign of their submerged status,” stated in Chapter Six of Howard Zinn’ s famous book, A People’s History of the United States. As Zinn has stated in the quote, women and their achievements in history have been rarely mentioned in society which is the sign of treating women as inferior subjects. Treating women as inferior has started since from the day Christopher Columbus had brought his people to his claimed land which later became America. The idea of patriarchy was brought along…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Candide

    • 295 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How are woman treated in the novel? How do their experiences differ from those of the male characters? How, in general, do they react to their treatment?…

    • 295 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is a natural relationship between men and women. They have their individual roles and position in the society. These roles and positions of men and women are not written in verbatim in any book of law. Instead they are manifested in the culture of the society with various external factors that can be influenced by society’s religion, political, geographical and others. These societal roles are passed on from generation to generation and reflected through literary works. The works of the writers collected from various stories are replica of the actual scenes that happen in the society. The men and women from the past are understood by the books written. Throughout time, gender positions and roles have been changing. These changes can be seen through various works throughout history.…

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    According to Marilyn French, men and women are most generally seen as two extremely different entities with diverse characteristics and imposed roles within society. There are two different aspects of the feminine principle, the ‘inlaw’ and the ‘outlaw’. The ‘inlaw’ aspect, portrays nature's benevolent side, which includes the ability to give birth, as well as compassion, while aiming to maintain the importance of community above that of the individual. On the other hand, the ‘outlaw’ aspect represents nature's malevolent side, as well as darkness, turmoil and sexuality.…

    • 3648 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Men having the cultural dominance over women is a way that the author demonstrates the limited rights of women in Afghan society. According to Sharia law, a female’s testimony is worth ½ that of a man. This shows that women are automatically known as lesser individuals. In the novel, A Russian soldier wants to take advantage of the woman on the bus (Hosseini 114). This contributes to men having the ultimate power because he knows he has control and can do whatever he wants with her and she has no say so. A…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Thousand Splendid Suns

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Women in Afghanistan have been treated horribly for decades. A majority are forced into marriage and then controlled by their husbands. In the novel, Mariam is thrust into an unhappy marriage at the age of fifteen after her mother dies. She caters to her husband’s every need with no sign of gratitude. Mariam showcases a strength that is not measured by her authority or brawn, but by her ability to overcome and accept her fate. Laila, on the other hand is very fortunate. Her father, Babi, is a revolutionist who knows the importance of women. Babi says to her, “…when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance.” He knows that a society cannot flourish, or even exist without the presence of women, and respects them for that.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cognitive Design

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The author portrays the experiences of the two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, who live in a society where women are mistreated. Mariam’s character is described as a quiet and thoughtful girl who questions the society and dreams of a luxurious life. She experiences physical and mental abuse from almost every person in her life and is brought up in an isolated environment by a bitter mother who puts her down. For instance, in the beginning of the novel Nana, Mariam’s mother, says: “You are a clumsy little harami” (Hosseini, 4). This very word “harami” helps the reader to analyze the struggles of an illegitimate child. Nana also prepares Mariam to expect nothing from men: “Like a compass needle that always point north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always .... Mariam” (Hosseini, 7). This is also used to foreshadow Mariam’s husband, Rasheed, a cruel, abusive and hot tempered man, who physically and verbally abuses Mariam after marriage.…

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, according to Shyamala, “Femininity is characterized by tolerance, delicacy, submission, emotion and softness” (169), a truth that is presented especially within the novel. Though this is true, the most evident traditional view present is that “Women are assigned only support roles such as a nurse, mother or wife” (Sarma 45). These roles are directly related to delicacy and softness that women are described as being which they sometimes relate to weakness. The novel presents a visual of women being in the support role to their husbands as in many instances, such as when a young Amir mentions that “The women were cooking”(Hosseini 90), and that the “wives and daughters served dinner” (Hosseini 90). While the men are sitting down, and such, the women are doing the chores of cooking and preparing dinner reinforcing their position in supporting roles. The men are the ones who dominate in this case. Additionally, as suggested by Shyamala, the traditional “Reflects Afghan culture where women need to be pure for men” (171). They must be pure so that they can find a husband, just as Amir claims, “Every woman needed a husband” (Hosseini 187). However, in Soraya’s case, she has no suitors until Amir arrives, and he is not accustomed to the…

    • 1021 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Persepolis

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Gender within a specific culture, country, or even household can have a various amount of roles and predetermined ways of life placed upon individuals. The characters inside the stories of Persepolis and “Mrs. Dutta writes a letter” truly give an audience an idea of how both Men and Women handle the roles they have according to society. Whether its rebellion, or conformity, the characters path is set to find deeper meaning and happiness.…

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Difret Film Analysis

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the film Difret 2014 by Zeresenay Mehari and the reading “A Small Place” by Jamaica Kincaid, both the film and the reading portray either patriarchy or colonialism. This paper outlines that although individuals may think that there is a relationship between patriarchy and colonialism that there isn’t. Illustrations and meanings will be provided on to further explain this, as well as how colonialism has affected the indigenous world for worse, and lastly, the treatment of women. In the film Difret, patriarchy is depicted for the reason that Meza who is a female lawyer who is representing Hirut, is standing up to the man in power. In the system of the society the men hold the power and the women are excluded from it. In the reading,…

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the novel Segu, Maryse Conde beautifully constructs personal and in depth images of African history through the use of four main characters that depict the struggles and importance of family in what is now present day Mali. These four characters and also brothers, by the names of Tiekoro, Siga, Naba, and Malobali are faced with a world changing around their beloved city of Bambara with new customs of the Islamic religion and the developing ideas of European commerce and slave trade. These new expansions in Africa become stepping stones for the Troare brothers to face head on and they have brought both victory and heartache for them and their family. These four characters are centralized throughout this novel because they provide the reader with an inside account of what life is like during a time where traditional Africa begins to change due to the forceful injection of conquering settlers and religions. This creates a split between family members, a mixing of cultures, and the loss of one’s traditions in the Bambara society which is a reflection of the changes that occur in societies across the world. The novel immediately projects the fear and misunderstanding felt by the people of Bambara due to the unexpected early changes that are taking place in Africa. “A white man...There’s a white man on the bank of the Joliba” is exclaimed by Dousika’s pregnant wife Sira (Conde 5). The family is instantly struck with a curious mind but also one that is uneasy. The sight of this white man causes great despair already for the man of the house Dousika: “White men come and live in Segu among the Bambara? It seemed impossible, whether they were friends or enemies!”(Conde 10). The unexpected appearance of this white man marks the beginning of anguish for Dousika and his four sons, especially for Dousika at first for he is embarrassed by the council due to this stranger’s intrusion. This white…

    • 1939 Words
    • 56 Pages
    Better Essays