'Analysis of mariama ba’s novel ‘so long a letter’\r'

'In some literary works the principal characters be portrayed through their relations with other protagonists. such a tool of expression is specifically employ by Mariama Ba in her famous fresh So Long a Letter. examine Ramatoulaye with Aissatou, Binetou with Nabou and Modou with Mawdo, this Senegalese writer uncovers the identities of her characters, their personal characteristics and beliefs, motivations and affectionate standing.\r\nThe novel So Long a Letter is created in the ashes of a prolonged letter written by Ramatoulaye Fall to her fill female friend Aissatou Ba. Applying to the letter of Ramatoulaye, the author develops that recently she has lost her husband, Modou Fall, and in concurrence with her Muslim apparitional beliefs, she has to spend often eon in privacy. Ramatoulaye comp ares her fate with the fate of Aissatou; in fact, some(prenominal) women are betrayed by their husbands and take for to adjust to polygamy.\r\nRamatoulaye identifies herself with Aissatou, claiming that â€Å"we walked the comparable paths from adolescence to maturity, the past begets the present… Yesterday you were divorced. Today I am a widow” (Ba 1). Both Ramatoulaye and Aissatou get down received good education that allows them to strive for equality between men and women. Mariama Ba demonstrates that although these female characters are the victims of their religious beliefs and low fond position, they are set-aside(p) in the struggle for personal freedom and independency of their country.\r\nOn the other hand, the writer shows that Ramatoulaye and Aissatou act other than when they collide with the husbands’ betrayal; Aissatou specifys to divorce her husband Mawdo Ba, small-arm Ramatoulaye remains a second wife of her husband. In this regard, Ramatoulaye believes that it is necessary to unite some good sometime(a) traditions of Muslims with the principles of personal freedom, while Aissatou rejects old customs, making an ton e-beginning to become fully independent and finding her spick-and-span place of living in the United States.\r\nThus, although Ramatoulaye and Aissatou have received similar education, share similar religious and political beliefs, they reveal contrary personal motivations and different family positions. They are both strong females, but they hire different ways to cope with their personal tragedies.\r\nComparing personal fates of Ramatoulaye and Aissatou, the writer simultaneously demonstrates a confederation between Modou and Mawdo, the husbands of two female characters. Both Modou and Mawdo decide to take younger wives, fully ignoring the devotion of their maiden wives. These male characters treat females as their own properties, considering women decline to them. Modou goes even further than Mawdo, he not just abandons his wife with twelve children, but he in addition chooses a young female who is a close friend of his daughter.\r\nAs a result, Modou is punished more(pr enominal) than Mawdo; Modou dies because he deserves such a stroke of fate. Modou neglects his rootage family when he takes the second wife, greatly injuring Ramatoulaye, while Mawdo’s second hymeneals frees Aissatou and provides her with the possibility to find her current self. Ramatoulaye, belonging to a rather noble family, marries Modou, the section of the khaki-class, because she loves him. However, Modou forgets Ramatoulaye and her love, marrying Binetou and ignoring his role of a family defender.\r\nDescribing Binetou, the author compares her with Aunty Nabou, mother-in-law of Aissatou. speckle Binetou is portrayed as a person who evokes more sympathy, Nabou is a woman who makes everything to preserve her high social position and who considers that â€Å"the first quality in a woman is docility” (Ba 29). Binetou is twice younger than her husband Modou, and Ramatoulaye claims that this irreproachable female will suffer much in due course. Ramatoulaye marr ies Modou for love, while Binetou performs the wish of her mother who considers that this marriage will provide the family with a good social position.\r\nBut Binetou’s marriage to Modou ruins this female character. Nabou, who contributes much to Aissatou’s divorce, also hopes that this divorce will have her family. This woman is obsessed with social prejudices and regards Aissatou as improper match to her son. As the writer states, Aunt Nabou â€Å"is a descendant of Bour-Sine. She lived in the past, unaware of a ever-changing world” (Ba 26). Nabou identifies herself with her cast, being unable to resist its traditions and reveal her independence. In this regard, Nabou resembles Binetou who also fails to reject the dictated marriage, following the destructive path.\r\nWorks Cited\r\nBa, Mariama. So Long a Letter. London and Nairobi: Heinemann, 1981.\r\nRelated essay: â€Å"Co Curricular Activities Letter”\r\n'