On nearly 500 pages Margaret Walker tells the story of her great-grandmother. Jubilee is the story about Vyry, a black female slave who longs for freedom and finally gains it, at least officially, after the Civil War years. Besides this individual destiny, the novel contains historical sections and information about political developments during that time, several complex characters in addition to Vyry and inside views even of white characters, detailed descriptions of the slaves’ everyday life, their family structures, their language and their hierarchies. My term paper will deal with those elements which turn Jubilee into a folk novel, i.e. an account of African American traditions which were passed from generation to generation orally. It was clear to me that Walker had intended to write a kind of folk novel when I read
her dedication: She dedicated her first and only novel to her family, especially to her
four children so “that they may know something of their heritage”. Apparently, family
boundaries and traditions do not only play a major role in the novel but also did in
Walker’s own life. After reading Walker’s essay “How I wrote Jubilee” there was
further evidence found for my initial intuition. There she mentions: “I always intended
Jubilee to be a folk novel based on folk material: folk sayings, folk belief, folkways.”
(Walker 1973: 62). Furthermore, the origin of Jubilee is a piece of oral tradition itself.
According to the same essay, her grandmother had told her stories about slave life in
Georgia ever since she was a child (Walker 1973: 51). As an adult she carried out a
long-lasting research because she was determined “to authenticate the story I had
heard from my grandmother’s lips” (Walker 1973: 56). The task of this term paper will be to find instances where its characteristics as a
folk novel become obvious. To fulfil this task I will begin with a summary of the novel
and I will provide a working definition of the term “folklore”. Afterwards there will be a
closer investigation of some folkloric categories which are represented in Jubilee.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 About this term paper
1.2 About the novel
2. A working definition of “folklore”
3. Folkloric elements found in Jubilee
3.1 Religion
3.2 Songs
3.3 Folk Beliefs and Conjure
3.4 Medicine and Nursing
3.5 Cooking and Food
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This academic paper examines Margaret Walker's novel "Jubilee" through the lens of its folkloric elements, aiming to demonstrate how the narrative preserves African American oral traditions. The research investigates how these cultural practices served as mechanisms for survival, psychological resilience, and the construction of identity among enslaved and emancipated Black women.
- The representation of religious worship and spirituals in slave life.
- The role of folk beliefs and conjure as psychological defense mechanisms.
- Traditional knowledge in medicine, healing arts, and nursing.
- The cultural significance of culinary arts and folk food traditions.
- The literary transformation of oral history into the "neo-slave narrative" genre.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Religion
“No matter how tired Aunt Sally was at night, she never failed on Big Meeting Nights to go to hear Brother Ezekiel preach.” (Jubilee: 44) These meetings in Jubilee, which are secret religious worship with praying and singing, take place somewhere in the swamps and a long way from the Big House. Aunt Sally’s attitude corresponds to Blassingame’s statement that “the slave’s faith in his God was deep and abiding” (Blassingame 1972: 74). She turns to God in times of troubles to regain confidence and prays to Him for sending a Black Moses to free all slaves. When she is sent off to the auction block, it is this belief that gives her enough courage to carry on (Jubilee: 84ff). She pleads, “Oh, Lord, when is you gwine send us that Moses? When you gwine set us people free?” (Jubilee: 85) This Moses figure is still alive in black American consciousness and is represented in spirituals like “Go Down Moses”. Nowadays, the term is often used in non-religious contexts, e.g. for political leadership.
As in many areas of life, Vyry models herself on Aunt Sally who is her “link to the past and to her own identity” (Klotman 1977: 142). As a young girl she is looking forward to get baptized. Later on, she develops a deep faith in God, attends religious services with her own family and also addresses Him in times of sorrow. This liberating force which religion offered is presented, for example, after Vyry got involved into trouble between Innis Brown and her son Jim. She walks into the woods and after praying there she says, “And Lord, I wants to thank you, Jesus, for moving the stone!” (Jubilee: 455)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, introducing Margaret Walker’s "Jubilee" as a neo-slave narrative and defining the primary objective to explore its folkloric characteristics.
2. A working definition of “folklore”: Provides a theoretical framework for "folklore" by synthesizing various scholarly definitions, emphasizing its function in preserving cultural heritage and ensuring survival.
3. Folkloric elements found in Jubilee: Analyzes five specific categories—religion, songs, folk beliefs, medicine, and food—to illustrate how these elements function within the novel's historical and social context.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the research findings, confirming that the integration of folklore effectively fulfills Walker’s intention to authenticate the oral traditions of her ancestors.
Keywords
Jubilee, Margaret Walker, folklore, neo-slave narrative, African American tradition, slavery, religion, spirituals, conjure, folk medicine, culinary arts, oral history, identity, cultural heritage, survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how Margaret Walker incorporates various folkloric traditions—such as religion, songs, and folk medicine—into her novel "Jubilee" to construct an authentic representation of Black history and identity.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the text?
The main themes include the psychological survival of slaves through faith and community, the preservation of oral traditions, the role of women in transmitting heritage, and the socio-cultural significance of food and healing practices.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The primary goal is to validate "Jubilee" as a "folk novel" by identifying and analyzing specific instances where folk material serves to maintain cultural continuity across generations.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, examining the text alongside secondary historical and sociological literature to interpret the function and importance of folkloric elements.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body provides a detailed investigation into five specific categories: religion, songs, folk beliefs and conjure, medicine and nursing, and cooking and food.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Jubilee, neo-slave narrative, folklore, African American culture, oral tradition, and cultural survival.
How does the novel portray the role of the "Black preacher"?
The author highlights the preacher, specifically Brother Zeke, as a central figure in slave religion who provided spiritual comfort, political awareness, and acted as an essential link for the Underground Railroad.
What role does the character Vyry play in the context of folk medicine?
Vyry acts as a custodian of folk traditions; her deep knowledge of herbs and healing, passed down from older women like Aunt Sally, becomes a vital tool for her family's survival and resettlement.
Why are "sorrow songs" or spirituals significant in the novel?
They serve as both a means of religious expression and a psychological outlet, allowing characters like Vyry and Aunt Sally to articulate sorrow, anger, and a dignified cry for freedom.
How does the concept of "conjure" function in the narrative?
Conjure is depicted as a form of psychological defense and a "last resort" for slaves, providing a sense of power over their environment that supersedes the control of the master.
- Citation du texte
- Katharina Schäfer (Auteur), 2007, Jubilee as a folk novel, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/93880
