So Long a Letter free essay sample

A discussion of the novel by Mariama Ba. This paper analyzes the book So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba. It presents a brief summary of the story and then discusses how the style used by the author hinders her presentation of the question of male/female relationships within the family structure. Mariama Ba in her novel, So Long A Letter, gives the audience a glimpse into the Islamic world. The book is written as a letter from the main character, Ramatoulaye, to her childhood friend, Aissatou. It is both a missive and lamentation of Ramatoulayes life, more than half a century of years. She has reached a cross-road, and as one might retrace his route on a map if lost, she retraces her feelings and experiences that have brought her this far on her journey (Ba 1996). Her husband of twenty-odd years has died. However, it has only been a short time since he sent word to her that he had taken a new wife, a mere girl, a friend of their daughters. We will write a custom essay sample on So Long a Letter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ramatoulayes indignation of the marriage turns to sympathy for the young widow. Through the journal, the audience learns of her feelings and experiences as a single mother coping with first abandonment and then widowhood (Johnson 1999).