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UCT English Department Essay Checklist 2019
LITERATURE: HOW AND WHY? (ELL1013F)
University of Cape Town
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UCT English Department Essay Checklist Yes No 1. Have you used an appropriate style for this essay? (If this is a critical/academic essay, this means a formal register with no overly emotionally charged language)
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Tutors Name: Abdullah Dada Date: 27 April 2020 Literature How and Why? (ELL1013F) Essay Assignment 2 Option 1: So Long a Letter
So Long a Letter, a Feminist Novel
The epistolary novel, So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba relates the story of various women in a post-colonial society which is heavily influenced by Islamic customs. The stories of Ramatoulaye, Aissatou (Ramatoulaye’s childhood friend), Aunty Nabou (Aissatou’s mother-in-law), Young Nabou (Mawdo’s second wife), Ramatoulaye’s daughters; Daba, and Aissatou, Jacqueline (a Christian women), as well as Binetou (Ramatoulaye’s co-wife) all coalesce to bring forth the theme’s in the novel. Religion, Polygyny and Class Hierarchy are all important themes when analysing and understanding So Long a Letter as a feminist novel. This essay will explore the integrated stories of each character along with the mentioned themes to discuss So Long a Letter as a feminist novel.
The given passage relays part of Aissatou’s (Ramatoulaye’s childhood friend) story, in which her mother-in-law, Aunty Nabou, disagreed with her son Mawdo’s choice in marriage because she comes from a working class family while Aunty Nabou is a Guelewar (Princess of the Sine). Aunty Nabou believed that Aissatou’s sons were not of her own, that their blood was not royal and pure like hers, which is why she told her son, Mawdo, that he must marry Young Nabou in order to fulfil her. She tells Mawdo that “Shame kills faster than disease,” (Ba 30), and that she will never get over it if he does not marry Young Nabou. This passage represents both themes of polygyny and class hierarchy. Due to Aissatou’s status as a “goldsmith’s daughter”, she is part of the working class while Aunty Nabou’s family is seemingly of royal blood who would then be of a much higher class compare to Aissatou’s family. Aunty Nabou wants her son to marry Young Nabou, her brother’s daughter, so that they could then have sons whose blood is ‘pure’. Thus making Aissatou’s sons irrelevant. The introduction of a second wife for Mawdo, brings about the theme of polygyny, which is primarily a marriage in which two or more women share a husband. Polygyny plays a role in not only Aissatou’s story but also Ramatoulaye’s, causing
this. However, it is not only a woman who can be a feminist and have the ideologies of a feminist. Ibrahima Sall brings further aspects to the novel which points it in the direction of a feminist novel. Young Aissatou falls pregnant and it is revealed that Ibrahima is the father of the unborn child. Before looking at the character of Ibrahima, it is important to analyse the situation in which Young Aissatou is in. “The first question that comes to mind on discovering such a condition is; who? Who is behind this theft, for there has been a theft. Who is behind this injury, for injury it is. Who has dared?” (86). Ramatoulaye is distraught over her daughter’s situation, because of the consequences that a female has to face. Young Aissatou will carry the child, it is her who’s belly will swell and who will show the signs of pregnancy and bear the burden from society’s judgement, not the father of the child who if he chooses, can remain unknown and in denial. “What was to be done to prevent my daughter’s expulsion from school?” (90) Ramatoulaye’s concerns for her daughter’s education is prominent. If a girl is to be found pregnant she will be expelled from school, her education will be stopped and she will not be able to further herself. Ibrahima plans for all of this, he encourages her education to continue. “When will there be a lenient law to help erring schoolgirls whose condition is not camouflaged by long holidays?”. (90). The society in which the novel is set, is not a ‘pro-women’ society. Thus, making womens faults easier to point out and harder to hide. In a situation like this one, the male is safe while the female has no protection.
Each story of the characters in So Long a Letter are part of the essence of it being a feminist novel. Ramatoulaye tells the story of Jacqueline. A woman who suffered because her husband was not loyal to her. Jacqueline thought something was wrong with her, but was later told that she suffered from depression. On hearing this, Jacqueline was able to pull through and find happiness without her husband.
Ramatoulaye is approached by a number of suiters who offer her their hand in marriage. From Tamsir, her deceased husbands brother, to an old first love Daouda. Just like the time Ramatoulaye was informed of her husband marrying Binetou, she was approached by Tamsir and the Imam. “Usually it is the younger brother who inherits his elder brother’s wife”. (60). This very line shows how woman are seen as objective, as they are to be inherited like an object passed through a family. However, Ramatoulaye denies Tamsir this. Despite many people’s remarks, saying that Ramatoulaye should marry, she does not. She earns herself a reputation as a ‘lioness’
or ‘mad woman’. This shows the views of people, some admiring her refusal and strength and others finding it completely strange.
During a conversation with Ramatoulaye, Daouda expresses some of his believes which can be labelled as feminist like ideologies. “Women should no longer be decorative accessories, objects to be moved about, companions to be flattered or calmed with promises...” (64). This highlights what a woman should be. Someone equal to a man that is not an object and should be involved with everything a man can be expected to be involved in.
So Long a Letter represents that a woman does not necessarily need a man to find her strength or her happy ending. This feminist novel, inspires equality for men and women by showing the stories of these characters. Due to issues like polygyny, class hierarchy and religion, certain women were driven to show the true strength of a women’s capability with and without a man. So Long a Letter is a feminist novel as it not only represents women in all forms and situations, but shows what it is to be a woman.
UCT English Department Essay Checklist 2019
Course: LITERATURE: HOW AND WHY? (ELL1013F)
University: University of Cape Town
