Mother Imagery in the Novels of Afro-Caribbean Women PDF
Preview Mother Imagery in the Novels of Afro-Caribbean Women
Mother Imagery in the Novels of Afro-Caribbean Women Simone A. James Alexander University of Missouri Press Mother Imagery in the Novels of Afro-Caribbean Women This page intentionally left blank Mother Imagery in the Novels of Afro-Caribbean Women O Simone A. James Alexander University of Missouri Press ColumbiaandLondon Copyright©2001by TheCuratorsoftheUniversityofMissouri UniversityofMissouriPress,Columbia,Missouri65201 PrintedandboundintheUnitedStatesofAmerica Allrightsreserved 5 4 3 2 1 05 04 03 02 01 LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Alexander,SimoneA.James,1967– Mother imagery in the novels of Afro-Caribbean women / SimoneA.JamesAlexander. p. cm. Includesbibliographicalreferences(p. )andindex. ISBN0-8262-1309-X(alk.paper) 1. Carribbean fiction (English)—Women authors—History and criticism. 2. Women and literature—Caribbean Area— History—20th century. 3. Women and literature—United States—History—20th century. 4. American fiction—Afro- Americanauthors—Historyandcriticism. 5.Americanfiction— Women authors—History and criticism. 6. Marshall, Paule, 1929—Criticism and interpretation. 7. Kincaid, Jamaica— Criticism and interpretation. 8. Conde´, Maryse—Criticism and interpretation. 9. Mothers and daughters in literature. 10. Motherhood in literature. 11. Mothers in literature. 12. Homeinliterature. I.Title. PR9205.4.A48 2001 813'5093520431—dc21 00-061985 (cid:1)(cid:1) Thispapermeetstherequirementsofthe AmericanNationalStandardforPermanenceofPaper forPrintedLibraryMaterials,Z39.48,1984. Textdesign:ElizabethK.Young Jacketdesign:VickieKerseyDuBois Typesetter:BOOKCOMP,Inc. Printerandbinder:Thomson-Shore,Inc. Typefaces:ComicSans,Palatino Forpermissions,seep.215 To my mother and to all unsung Caribbean mothers who made this project possible. This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction Reclaiming Identities: Afro-Caribbean Women Writers Writing the Self 1 1 ResistingZombification:(Re)Writing/Righting the Literary Canon 28 2 I Am Me, I Am You: The Intricate Mother-Daughter Dyadic Relationship 45 3 Imagined Homelands: Engendering a Mythic Return “Home” 96 4 “An/Other Way of Knowing Things”: Ancestral Line(age), Revalidating Our Ancestral Inheritances 136 5 “Call[ing] Your Nation”: A Journey Completed 188 Bibliography 197 Index 211 This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgments I acknowledge and express deep appreciation to the many won- derfulpeoplewhoseencouragementandsupportmadethewriting ofthismanuscriptpossible.First,IwouldliketothanktheUniversity of Missouri Press, which welcomed and accepted my proposal for the publication of this book. I especially thank the editor-in-chief, Beverly Jarrett, who was my initial contact, and Jane Lago, who has exhibited tremendous patience in guiding me through the ini- tial stages. I also thank Karen Caplinger, the marketing manager, and Annette Wenda, the copyeditor, for her insight and wonderful suggestions. My thanks to faculty at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, namely,AbenaBusia,ReneéLarrier,JosephineDiamond,andGerard Aching,whohassincejoinedthefacultyatNewYorkUniversity,for theircarefulreading,patience,guidance,andinsightduringtheearly stagesofthismanuscript.SincerethanksalsotoNancyandCandace of the English Department at Rutgers. I am also very grateful to Maryse Condé for her kindness and openness and for granting me aninterview.Iamalsoveryappreciativeofhercontinuedsupport. I thank the Dean of English and Humanities of Pratt Institute, Toni Oliviero, for her generous support and encouragement. I am indebtedtoKenBoxleyandTessMagsaysayoftheKenBoxleySchol- arship Foundation, who provided me with a fellowship without whichthisprojectwouldnothavebeenpossible.IthanktheGrad- uate School at Rutgers University for a Study Abroad Fellowship that enabled me to pursue research in Jamaica at the University of the West Indies, Mona. I extend special thanks to Barbara Sirman and Dean Harvey Waterman. I also thank Elizabeth Wilson of the University of the West Indies, who greatly encouraged me in my endeavors,andJeanSmall,whogreatlycontributedtomypleasant stayinJamaica. Sincere thanks to my friends Paula, for her encouragement and supportandforplayinganimportantroleduringtheearliestphases of this project, and Shondel, who has offered meaningful sugges- tions, valuable advice, and support. I would also like to thank my ix
Description:The list of books you might like
