Characteristics of African- American literature in Kathryn Stockett's The Help and Alice Walker's The Color Purple By Nina Louise Greve A Thesis Submitted
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Characteristics: The literature is as diverse as the cultures that created it, but there are often common elements such as stories explaining creation or natural forces The narratives, myths, legends, songs and narratives were passed down in an oral tradition
Crow, KKK, etc Characteristics Page 34 Realism (1850-1900)
Characteristics of African- American literature in Kathryn Stockett's The Help and Alice Walker's The Color Purple By Nina Louise Greve A Thesis Submitted
and American literary criticism on this topic research, by the characteristics of English and American Literature and American Literature and commentary of the
Writing the Nation: A Concise Introduction to American Literature—1865 to setting forth of the characteristics of a particular locality, enabling the reader to
American Literature Timeline Period Dates Period Name Period Characteristics Famous Authors and Works Arrived 40,000 - 20,000 B C Native Americans
18 sept 2014 · Native Americans, the first inhabitants of the continent, did not develop anything we can call “literature” – their stories and poems were spread
romanticism, gothic, transcendentalism, realism, naturalism, or pastoral works • Explain the characteristics of accounts of slave narratives • Analyze literary
And, this is one of the major characteristics of Romanticism in literature The Romantic era did not affect only people's way of thinking, but also their faith in God
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6TheHelpthereforeisdestinedtoshowblacknessonlyfromtheoutside,neverfromtheinside.ThisthesisfocusesonthetreatmentofblackidentityandblackgenderstudiesinTheHelp,asthesearethetwomainareasDanaWilliamsmentionsascrucialtoAfrican-Americanwomen'swriting.ThisisundoubtedlytrueforTheColorPurple,wherewecanfindalltheelementsthatWilliamslistsascrucial.IherebyreproduceherideasonAfrican-Americanwomen'swriting:1. Itisaliteraturethatexplorestheself2. Itmakesinquiriesintoblackwomanhood3. Itproclaimsthemessageoflovingoneselfandone'sculture4. Itcriticizesblackswhoclingontowesternculture5. Itisarebellionagainstpatriarchyandracism6. Itisaboutmentalandspiritualhealing7. Itmakesconnectionsbetweenthepastandthepresent(Williams75)Asstatedearlier,myhypothesisisthatStockettistoomuchofanoutsiderinordertoexploreblackidentityandblackwomanhood.Inherafterword,Stockettalsovoicesherfearofstereotypingherblackcharacters."Iwasscared,alotofthetime,thatIwascrossingaterribleline,writinginthevoiceofablackperson.IwasafraidIwouldfailtodescribearelationshipthatwassointenselyinfluentialinmylife,soloving,sogrosslystereotypedinAmericanhistoryandliterature."(Stockett201)Again,myhypothesisisthatherwhitesensibilitywillunablehertomovebeyondthestereotypicalinTheHelp.Afterall,inherownwords,"Idon'tthinkit[whatitreallyfeltliketobeablackwomaninMississippi]issomethinganywhitewomanontheotherendofablackwoman'spaycheckcouldevertrulyunderstand."(Ibid) 32Also,thepoweroffriendshipmakesthewhitewomeninthenovelopentheireyes.ThewaySkeeterdescribesConstantineisverysymbolic:"Infact,theshadesofbrownonConstantinewereendless.Herelbowswereabsolutelyblack,withadry whitedustontheminthewinter.Theskinonherarmsandneckandfacewasadarkebony.Thepalmsofherhandswereorangey-tanandthatmademewonderifthesolesofherfeetweretoo[...]" (Stockett33) SkeeterdoesnotseeConstantineasjustblack,likemostwhitepeoplewould,butseesthatshehasdifferenttonestoherskin.ThisisbecausetheirfriendshipenableshertoseeConstantine'struecolors,andsymbolicallythatmeanssheseeswhatConstantineisreallyworth. Otherthanshowingthereaderthatlifeisnotonlyblackandwhite,Stockettalsomanagestolaughaboutitall.Thatway,shetakesawaytheseriousnessfromtheissue.Skeetersaysofherownwhitecolorthatitisn'tsobeautifulaspeoplewouldthink,for"whilesomecallthiscreamy,itcanlookdownrightdeathlywhenI'mserious,whichisallthetime."(Stockett29) InAfrican-Americannovels,blacknessisacentraltopic.Ratherthanunitingblackandwhitewomen,andstressingthatblackisonlyaskincolor,theblackwritersdigdeepintowhatitfeelsliketobeblack.Theirblackidentityiscomplex;thereisnotjustblack,butshadesofblackandmulattoes.WethereforecannottalkofasingleAfrican-Americanidentity,butofseveralidentities.Blacks,influencedbywhitesociety,haveestablishedahierarchywhereitisbettertobeamulatto,orlight-skinned,thanitistobeasblackasnight.Throughpointingafingerattheblackestoneamongstthem,andespeciallyattheblackwomen,alltheothersfeelbetteraboutthemselves.InTheColorPurple,Celiestartsoutveryawareofallthecategoriesofblack,andthinking,likemost,thatthebrighterskin,thebetter.Harpo,herhusband'sson,thinksjustlikeher,andwhenhefirstfallsinlovewithSofia,hisdescriptionofheristhefollowing:"Shepretty,hetellme.Bright."WhenCeliegoesontoaskhimwhetherhemeansthatsheissmart,hecorrectsher:"Brightskin."TheironyisthatSofiaisn'treallybrightskinned,onlycomparedtoHarpo'sownskintone.Ratherthanbright,Celie 33describesSofia'sskinas"Clearmediumbrown".(Walker26)ThiscommentshowsushowcategorizingandhierarchicalCeliestartsoutbeing,andthatsheclassifiesandvaluespeopleaccordingtotheblacknessoftheirskin,justlikeotherpeoplejudgeher.ThisisabouttochangewiththearrivalofShugandthereadingsofthelettersfromhersisterNettie.BothwomenservetobroadenCelie'shorizonsandchangethewayshelooksatherselfandthepeoplearoundher.Shugis"blackastar",butsheisstillthemostbeautifulwomanCeliehaseverseen,andalltheblackmendesireShugdespiteofherskincolor.(Walker39)Itishowevercommentedbythemthatsheisalittletooblack.Though,Shugcelebratesherownblacknessthroughshowingalotofskininpromiscuousdresses, "wearingaskintightreddresslooklikethestrapsmadeoutoftwopiecesofthread."(Walker47)FromShug,Celielearnsthatblackisbeautiful.HersisterNettiealsohelpstoreeducateherconceptofblackness.InthelettersNettiesendsherfromAfrica,shedescribestheAfricans'skintohave"[...]somethingmagicalaboutit.Becausetheblackissoblacktheeyeissimplydazzled,andthenthereistheshiningthatseemstocome,really,frommoonlight,itisso luminous,buttheirskinglowseveninthesun."(Walker77)WhatNettie'slettersdoistoofferCelieanalternativeperceptionofblacknessaccordingtoanAfricanmindset,showingherthatbeingblackisonlyconsideredabadthinginAmerica,butnotinthecountrysheisoriginallyfrom.InAfrica,peopleareproudtobeblack.TheculturaldifferencesareshownwhenCelie'ssonAdamproposestotheAfricangirlTashi,andthelatterrefuses.Nettieexplainsthat:"She[Tashi]hadseenthemagazineswereceivefromhomeandthatitwasverycleartoherthatblackpeopledidnottrulyadmireblackskinnedblackpeoplelikeherself,andespeciallydidnotadmireblackskinnedblackwomen.Theybleachtheirfaces,shesaid.Theyfrytheirhair.Theytrytolooknaked."(Walker128)CelieunderstandsthatAmericanshaveestablishedblackasbad,andthatblacknessassomethinguglyisaculturalconceptthatdoesnotdefineherunlesssheletsit.However,Celienevertrulyseesherselfasphysicallybeautiful.Attheend,whenShugfallsinlovewithGrady,CeliewondersifShugeverlovedheratall: 34"Whatwouldshelove?[...]MyhairisshortandkinkybecauseIdon'tstraightenitanymore.OnceShugsaysheloveitnoneedto.Myskin dark.Mynosejustanose.Mylipsjustlips.Mybodyjustanywoman'sbodygoingthroughthechangesofage.Nothing specialherefornobodytolove.Nohoneycoloredcurlyhair,nocuteness."(Walker122)Itisclearthatshestill,despitereadingNettie'sletters,anddespiteallthatShughastaughther,holdsontoCaucasianstandardsonbeauty,andnotAfricanidealsonbeauty.Celie'sinabilitytoloveherphysicalappearanceprovesthereisarealneedtoaddresstheissueinAfrican-Americanliterature.Stocketteitherisnotinterestedin,ordoesnotdaretoexplorewhatblacknessreallyfeelslike,butseesitonlythroughtheeyesofherwhitecharacters.3.3ReligionReligionhaslongbeenthefoundationofcommunitylifeforAfrican-Americansandisthereforeapartoftheirgroupidentity.Assuch,itisnaturalthatitisacentralelementalsoinAfrican-Americanliterature,asillustratedthroughthecomputeranalysisinthefirstchapter.ItisinterestingtoseeifandhowKathrynStockettportraysblackChristianity,andcompareittoAliceWalker'stakeonreligioninTheColorPurple.WhentheslaveswerebroughtfromAfricatotheAmericas,manywerealreadybaptizedChristians.(Thornton268)Thus,weunderstandtheimportanceoffaithtotheslaves,especiallyintroubledtimes.MissionariesweretheoneswhostoodfortheChristianizationofAfrica,andtheCongoisagoodexampleofacountryinwhichChristianitywasalreadyestablishedbeforetheslavesweretakentotheNewWorld.(Ibid)However,African-AmericanChristianspiritualitydifferssomewhatfromwhiteChristianspirituality,regardlessofthechurchcommunityyouareapartof.Afro-Christianitystartedoutasamixtureoftheslaves'ownreligiouspractices,fromdifferentreligionsinAfrica,andChristianity.Yet,certainpracticeswererepressed,especiallythosethatwerelinkedtowitchcraft.Inthiscategorywefindnocturnaldances,sacrificesand,tous, 35strangefuneralcelebrations.(Thornton268)Yet,asThorntonpointsout,thesepracticeswererepressedalsoinAfricabyAfricanChristianity,anditwasthereforenotnewtotheslavesthatthesepracticeswerefrowneduponinChristianity.Neitherdidthemajorityhaveaproblemleavingbehindsuchtraditions,astheywerefamiliarwiththetermwitchcraftandwantedtoabolishit.(Ibid)Inoldernovels,suchasUncleTom'sCabin,weseetheslavesstillclingingontopaganpractices.However,bothTheColorPurpleandTheHelparehistoricalnovelssetatalatertimeinhistory,fromthenineteen-fortiestothesixties,approximately,whentheblackcommunityatlargehadleftsuchpracticesbehind.However,weseeothercharacteristicsofAfrican-Americanspiritualityreflectedinbothnovelsathand.IntheAfrican-Americancommunity,theblackpastorhastheroleofacounselorandishighlyinvolvedinlivesofthechurchgoers.(Arnold14)InTheHelp,thisisillustratedthroughthedeaconThoroughgood,withahighlytellingname.Welearnthatheisagoodmanwhosupportsnon-violenceapproachestocivilrights,butwhoisveryactiveinthemovementforcivilrights.Forinstance,manyofthechurchmeetingscenteronthetopicofcivilrights.However,someofthechurchgoersfeelthathisapproachtocivilrightsistoopassive,andwouldlikemoredirectaction.Thefollowingsceneplaysoutatachurchmeetingafteraninnocentblackmanhasbeenkilled,andtheyhavegatheredatchurchtoprayforhimandhisfamily:""DeaconThoroughgood,"adeepvoiceboomthroughstillness.Iturn - everbodyturn - andthere'sJessup,PlantainFidelia'sgrandson,standinginthedoorway.Hetwenty-two,twenty-three.Hegothishandsinthickfists."WhatIwanttoknowis,"hesayslow,angry,"whatweplantodoaboutit."DeacongotasternlookonhisfacelikehedonetalkedwithJessupbefore."Tonight,wearegoingtoliftourprayerstoGod.WewillmarchpeacefullydownthestreetsofJacksonnextTuesday.AndinAugust,IwillseeyouinWashingtontomarchwithDoctorKing""Thatisnotenough!"Jessupsay,banginghisfistonhishand."Theyshothiminthebacklikeadog!""Jessup."Deaconraisehishand."Tonightisforprayer.Forthefamily.Forthelawyersonthecase.Iunderstandyouranger,but,son - ""Prayer?Youmeany'alljustgonnasitaroundandprayaboutit?"Helookaroundatallausinourchairs. 40Furthermore,inAAVE,"tobe"isusedintheinfinitivewhenwearetalkingabouthabits,suchas"Shebedancing",asinsomethingsheusuallydoes.However,Stockettuses"be"alsowhennottalkingabouthabits:"Shedoingherfiguring,likeshebetryingtocountitallup". (Stockett128)Inthiscase,itwouldsoundmorenaturaltoaspeakerofcorrectAAVEthatthe"be"wouldbeomitted,hence"likeshetryingtocountitallup".Anothertimesheblunders,iswiththesentence:"ShesayshecallyouifshebeneedinghelpwiththeBenefit"(Stockett16)Wearenottalkingabouthabitshere,andforaspeakerofAfrican-AmericanVernacularEnglish,itwouldprobablysoundmorenaturaltoomitthe"be".Thenegatedcopula"ain't"isverycommoninAAVE,andyouplace"ain't"asanauxiliaryverbfirstinthesentencewhenthesubjectisindefinite.(Pullum49)BothAliceWalkerandKathrynStockettdothisintheirnovels.Forexample,Stockettwrites"Ain'tnothingtolookat".However,shealsoformssentenceslike"Ain'tnogamecrossingmissHilly".Inthefirstexample,"nothing"isanindefinitepronoun,andStockettquitecorrectlyplacesitatthebeginningofthesentence.However,inthesecondsentence,thesubjectisimplicit:game.Itwouldhavebeenbettertoleave"ain't"outandstickto"NogamecrossingMissHilly".Thesameistrueforsimilarsentencesshemakes,like"AintnowayI'mgonnadosomethingascrazyasthat".(Stockett62)However,bothWalkerandStockettmakeuseofnegativeconcord,anothertypicalfeatureofAAVE.(Pullum48)Stockettwritesthat"Shedon'teatnoeggs"and"Shedon'tmakenofuss".(Stockett8)Inthesameway,Walkerwritesthat"shedon'tlooknospecialwayatall"and"shedon'tknowhowtodonothing"justtogivesomeexamples.(Walker19,62)Tosumup,weseethatStockettisawareofthemaintraitsofAAVE,eventhoughsheismistakeninherchoicesattimes.Apartfromlisteningtohermaid,shehasprobablynotattendedtypicalAfrican-Americanfemalespaceswhereshewouldlearntospeakthedialectcorrectly;noblackChurchmeetings,nogatheringswithblackfriendsandfamilyinthekitchen,norinthebeautyparlor.(Bell79)WalkerhasmoreexperiencefromtheAfrican-Americancommunityandmorecontextstodrawon.Yet,Pullummakesavery 48"Eugenia,youknowthereisnochewingguminthishouse.""Eugenia,goputalcoholonthatblemish.""Eugenia,marchupstairsandbrushyourhairdown,whatifwehaveanunexpectedvisitor?"(Stockett32)However,thedaughterdoesnotfitintothestereotypicalgenderrolesthathermotheristryingtoteachher."Sure,I[Skeeter]dreamedofhavingfootballdates,butmyrealdreamwasthatonedayIwouldwritesomethingthatpeoplewouldactuallyread."(Stockett30)Sheismoreindependentandinquiringthanmost,andherbiggestdreamistodosomethingimportant,nottomeetsomeoneimportant.Sinceshehasneverdatedanyone,hermotherstartsworryingwhethersheis"havingunnaturalthoughtsabout..."Sheshutshereyestight."Girlsor - orwomen?"(Stockett37)Ofcoursethisisnottrue,butittellsussomethingaboutgenderrolesinthe60s,wherewomen,insteadofworkingorstudying,shouldhaveafamilybythetimetheyreachedtwenty-three.AllofSkeeter'sfriendshaveadaptedtothegenderroles,andarenowmarriedandwithkids.SinceSkeeteristheonlyonetolagbehind,hermotherandeverybodyelseassumethatitisbecausesheisnotgood-lookingorthatshesimplyisn'tinterestedinmen.IthasneveroccurredtothemthatSkeeterhasotherimmediatedreamsandplansforherself.Becauseofprejudice,Skeeterdropscomingtoherowngraduation,giventhat"AllmyclosefriendshaddroppedouttogetmarriedandIdidn'tseethepointinmakingMamaandDaddydrivethreehoursjusttowatchmewalkacrossastage,whenwhatMotherreallywantedwastowatchmewalkdowntheaisle".(Stockett34)TheirblackmaidConstantinebecomesSkeeter'saccomplice.TheyarebothpickedonbySkeeter'smother,andareabletolaughaboutitwhentheyaretogether:"Yesma'am,"ConstantineandIwouldsayatthesametimeandthenpasseachotheralittlesmile."(Stockett33)PerhapstheexperiencewithbeingdifferentandhavingtostandupforherselfhasmadeSkeetermorereadytosympathizewiththeblackmaids,whoalsohavetofightprejudice.JustliketheblackmaidsfeelalienatedfromwhiteAmericansociety,Skeeterisalienatedfromherfriends,family,andlastlyalsoherboyfriendStuart.Whatregardsherfriends,Skeeterisalienatedfromthemalreadyinthebeginning,astheylivetheliveshermothersobadlywantshertolive,andwhichshedoesn'treallywishforherself.ThisalienationofcoursegrowsworsewithSkeeter'sawakenedmoral,findingit quotesdbs_dbs50.pdfusesText_50
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