Essay - Narrative Women in Context When Looking at Literature as a...

Narrative Women in Context

When looking at literature as a symbolic representation of literature, the absence of a mother figure within the n*****rrative may have a direct correl*****tion with the portrayal of society as strictly patriarchal. In Jamaica Kincaid's The Autobiography of My Mo*****r, the loss ***** Xuela's mother and alienation from her father is reflective of an alien *****d abusive society that leaves no room for her as an individual. For Rachel, in Virg*****ia Woolf's in A Voyage Out, the almost complete sublimation of a mot***** ***** *****d the overtly *****busive "brutish" properties of her fa*****r seem to be correlated with a reference to the English ***** during ***** Imperialist years.

Xuela Claudette Richardson is an amalgamation of national identities. Her mother was ***** the Carib*****an but was educated by French nuns. Her fa*****r was a mix of Scottish brigand, ***** a Black man's need to prove himself. Her mother died giving birth. ***** father immediately hands her over to Ma Eunice, the wash lady and another person 'in service' to her father. Her life with Eunice was not overly problematic as Xuela believed she was treated in the exact same manner as her own children. ***** brutality ***** exhibits is considered tantamount ***** inheritance and *****, perhaps, better than the intentional cruelty of her stepmother.

*****'s stepmother is the antithesis of motherhood - She gives the child moldy food as well as an amulet. Xuela's mistrust is such that she puts ***** necklace around the neck of the dog, which then proceeds to go crazy and die. Motherhood means death - ***** explains the re*****on ***** becomes her ***** abortionist.

In ***** The Voyage *****, ***** role of mother is avoided to the point ***** being sublimated in***** language and music. Only here ***** there a sense of nurtur*****g. Her mother is spoken of *****s Theresa and the only question ***** why shy would have married Willoughby Vinrace. The reader knows only that Rachel is not at all like her and that Willoughby doesn't like to talk about ***** before ***** death.

*****'s ***** is described as "big and burly... [with] a gre*****t booming voice, and a fist ***** a will ***** his own." There's an underlying assumption ***** he is ***** always or, perhaps, has not always been, kind *****d patient with his daughter. He ***** a habit of hitting her on ***** shoulder when he wants her to pay special attention ***** what he is saying. In truth, ***** ***** much rather she would fulfill the role ***** wife than daughter. ***** tells Helen, ***** sister in law, "I should want Rachel to be able to take m*****e part in th*****gs. A certain amount of entertaining ***** be necessary - dinners, an occasional evening party... In ***** ********** ways ***** could ***** of great help ***** *****." (Internet source). ***** is to be housekeeper, hostess, ********** companion. There is an intimation that Rachel has been the victim of incest, ***** having "suspected him of nameless atrocities