Alice Walker’s 1998 novel "By the Light of My Father’s Smile" as a womanist treatise invites attention, as it showcases the modern black woman who heralds in positive changes, develops womanist consciousness, and emerges as a whole woman despite oppressive racism, sexism and classism, that plague her in both their overt and covert forms. The text is a celebration of womanist consciousness that alleviates the condition of black women from victims to victors. It is a celebration of black womanhood, and female sexuality. This paper primarily focuses on womanism as a theory and the need to inculcate womanist consciousness to overcome the tripartite struggle faced by black women. The novel chiefly revolves around the lives of four women characters namely Susannah, Magdalena, Pauline and Irene to showcase the lives of African American and coloured women who develop womanist awareness with grit and determination to overcome oppression and marginalization. This paper specifically concentrates on the role model womanist of the novel Susannah, who emerges as a successful woman despite decapitating constrains. The novel showcases that womanism as a theory when put into practice in a pragmatic way offers many solutions to the tripartite struggle faced by black women.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. WOMANISM
3. DISCUSSION
4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines Alice Walker's 1998 novel "By the Light of My Father’s Smile" through the lens of womanist theory, exploring how the work addresses the intersectional challenges faced by black women. The primary research goal is to demonstrate how the adoption of womanist consciousness facilitates personal liberation, wholeness, and the transcendence of systemic oppression.
- Analysis of womanism as an inclusive theory for black and coloured women.
- Examination of the "tripartite struggle" involving racism, sexism, and classism.
- The role of female solidarity and sisterhood in achieving personal and community well-being.
- The significance of self-discovery, sexuality, and nature reverence in the protagonist's journey.
- The impact of education and social mobility on the agency of female characters.
Excerpt from the Book
DISCUSSION
Having stated who a womanist is, Walker has given the tenets of womanism an all-inclusive theory that never gives into discrimination based on race, gender, sexual preferences, sex and class. According to Walker, a womanist is audacious enough to voice herself, be heard, is responsible for herself and other blacks irrespective of sex, gender, religion, race and ethnicity. Womanism as a theory celebrates the sexuality of women, their strength and their wholeness. Moreover, womanism as a theory does not discriminate men out of its territory, as blacks need to solve the race issue being together and fighting for their rights. Womanist awareness ushers in freedom for women beyond patriarchal conformity as it advocates self-realization and self-reliance. It ushers in freedom for women as it is committed to the wellbeing of all blacks- men, women, transgenders and children. Womanism asserts for the celebration of motherhood as a matter of choice than as a fetter. It invites eco-friendly outlook or nature reverence and preservation of nature. The fourth definition of who a womanist is, brings in the race issue between black and white women and talks about the need to come out of the circle of feminism that discriminates black women and many colured women from its purview, being an all-white women movement. Womanism is more inclusive as it does not discriminate women based on race, and does not discriminate men from its domain based on sex and gender. At the same time it has to be remembered that black women, black families and the black community can never achieve wholeness by castigating black men off their domain. As put forth by Collins: “Womanism seemingly supplies a way for black women to address gender oppression without attacking black men” (“What’s in” 11).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Outlines the research focus on Alice Walker’s novel as a womanist treatise that highlights the transformation of black women from victims to victors.
WOMANISM: Defines the core tenets of womanism as a theory, tracing its origins to Walker’s earlier writings and establishing its all-inclusive nature.
DISCUSSION: Explores the practical application of womanist consciousness through character analysis, emphasizing themes like sisterhood, sexuality, education, and nature.
CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings, asserting that womanism offers a pragmatic framework for black women to achieve wholeness and foster equality within their communities.
Keywords
Womanism, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Patriarchy, Alice Walker, Womanist Consciousness, Sisterhood, Female Sexuality, Nature Reverence, Social Mobility, Black Womanhood, Empowerment, Self-reliance, Wholeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing Alice Walker’s novel "By the Light of My Father’s Smile" as a vehicle for womanist theory, specifically looking at how characters develop awareness to overcome oppression.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the tripartite struggle (racism, sexism, and classism), the importance of female solidarity, the role of education, and the significance of personal and sexual discovery.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to show how the practice of womanist consciousness allows black women to transcend limiting societal structures and emerge as successful, whole individuals.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The paper utilizes womanism—a theory defined by Alice Walker—which focuses on the specific experiences of black and coloured women while remaining inclusive of the broader community.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body examines character development, specifically that of the protagonist Susannah, and explores aspects like sisterhood, social mobility, religious constraints, and nature as a healing force.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Womanism, Womanist Consciousness, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Patriarchy, Sisterhood, and Alice Walker.
How does the author define the relationship between Susannah and her sister Magdalena?
The author characterizes their relationship as fraught with tension and jealousy, exacerbated by their father's patriarchal preferences, which eventually leads to a breakdown in their bond.
Why does the research highlight Susannah’s travels?
Susannah’s travels are presented as therapeutic and transformative experiences that grant her social mobility, cross-cultural understanding, and the space to resurrect her true self.
What stance does the novel take regarding religious influence?
The paper suggests that the novel critiques patriarchal indoctrination within religious structures, specifically Christianity, and encourages women to move beyond these fetters to achieve wholeness.
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- M.A M. Phil Ratna Hasanthi Dhavaleswarapu (Autor:in), 2021, Womanism in By the Light of My Father’s Smile, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1021797
