Summary analysis of so long a letter by mariama ba. In this book, the author recognized the immense contributions african women have made and continue to make in the building of their societies. The letter is occasioned by the sudden death of modou, ramatoulayes estranged husband. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of so long a letter by mariama ba. So long a letter by mariama ba is a novel written in the form of a long letter addressed by ramatoulaye fall to aissatou ba. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Essay about tradition and customs in so long a letter by. The occasion of the letter is the death of ramatoulaye falls husband. Mireille, whose father is a french diplomat gets married to ousmane, son of a. Mariama ba s so long a letter, clearly demonstrates the power of the pen.
Mariama ba this novel is in the form of a letter, written by the widowed. One is a mother to shield when lightning streaks the night, when thunder shakes the earth, when mud bogs one down. Despite the fact that it is a short text of only 90 pages, ba is able to construct and augment every character we meet in. I no longer scorn my mothers reserve concerning you, for a mother can. Mariama ba s so long a letter rizwana habib latha looks at the issue of feminisms in an african muslim postcolonial context, using the semiautobiographical novella, so long a letter by senegalese writer mariama ba as its basis t nhe semiautobiographical novella, so long a letter by mariama ba, focus. Mariama ba, a longtime womens activist, set out to write a book that exposed the double standard between men and women in africa. The occasion for writing is ramatoulayes recent widowhood. May 06, 2012 so long a letter ebook written by mariama ba. This beautiful classic was written in 1979 by senegalese woman, mariama ba. Mariama bas so long a letter has been the subject of much critical praise and scholarly analysis since its publication in 1979 for two reasons. Mariama bas novel touches on very profound issues that are still relevant to my generation of women. The brief narrative, written as an extended letter, is a sequence of reminiscences some wistful, some bitterrecounted by recently widowed senegalese. Feb 02, 2017 ramatoulaye is the narrator of so long a letter.
So long a letter, a work of fiction by mariama ba, is set in dakar, senegal, where the main character ramatoulaye writes a letter to her friend, aissatou, who lives in america. As so long a letter, scarlet song gained international attention. An autobiographical rereading of mariama ba s novel. Comparing ramatoulaye with aissatou, binetou with nabou and modou with mawdo, this senegalese writer uncovers the identities of her characters, their personal characteristics and. Senegalese writer mariama ba the patriotic vanguard. The result, so long a letter, eventually won the first noma award for publishing in africa. She writes her letter to her longtime friend aissatou.
According to a note about ba at the beginning of the book, she was born in. Womens roles in senegal in so long a letter by mariama ba, ba illustrates the roles of senegalese women compared to men in a western african and islamic society. The short narrative, written as a longer letter, is a chain of reminiscencessome wistful, a few bitterrecounted by way. She writes a letter to her long time friend, aissatou, whose husband also chose to take a second wife years before. Aws classics so long a letter by mariama ba, 97804359526, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
So long a letter essays are academic essays for citation. Written by awardwinning african novelist mariama ba and translated from the original french, so long a letter has been recognized as one of africas 100 best books of the 20th century. Mariama ba catapulted onto the african literary scene with her first novel, so long a letter, which received much acclaim and admiration. Like her real life there are political shades in the book. Analysis of so long a letter by mariama ba igcse ibdp exam. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. In some literary works the principal characters are portrayed through their relations with other protagonists. This 33page guide for so long a letter by mariama ba includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 27 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. So long a letter, by mariama ba, is a short novel only 90 pages, but it is rich in ideas and emotions. So long a letter is a landmark book a sensation in its own country and an education for outsiders. Jun 27, 2018 so long a letter by mariama ba is a short novel, translated by modupebodethomas. Mariama ba was senegalese writer who wrote in french and she was a feminist. Its theme is the condition of women in western african society.
This book kept me bound to it completely while reading. Neither a polemic nor an advice manual, ba explores the complex difficulties facing two muslim women as they wrestle with their husbands second marriages. So long a letter, mariama ba s first novel, is literally written as a long letter. Classics by mariama ba from amazons fiction books store.
Need help with chapter 1 in mariama bas so long a letter. According to a note about ba at the beginning of the book, she was born in the african nation of senegal and died in 1981. So long a letter by mariama ba under the neem tree. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Like her creator, she lives in senegal and is well educated.
Mariama bas novel consists of so long a letter that newly widowed ramatoulaye writes to her good friend, aissatou. The short narrative, written as a longer letter, is a chain of reminiscencessome wistful, a few bitterrecounted by way of lately widowed senegalese. So long a letter by mariama ba the africa book challenge. We deliver all best books for free in pdf format to read it on any device. The brief narrative, written as an extended letter, is a sequence of reminiscences some wistful, some bitterrecounted by recently widowed senegalese schoolteacher ramatoulaye fall. Middle aged senegalese school teacher, ramatoulaye, who is an educated muslim woman, a mother, an abandoned wife, and now a widow adjusts to her changing roles with strength but sadness. Mariama bas so long a letter is story that dives deeply into the struggles of being a woman in a society that has no thoughts for your pain. So long a letter by mariama ba, 1989, heinemann edition, in english. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Jul 11, 2019 home download so long a letter by mariama ba.
As the novel begins, ramatoulaye fall is beginning a letter to her lifelong friend. The brief narrative, written as an extended letter, is a sequence of reminiscencessome wistful, some bitterrecounted by recently widowed senegalese schoolteacher ramatoulaye fall. So long a letter by mariama ba is an entry in the book 500 great books by women. In it she depicts the sorrow and resignation of a woman who must share the. Such a tool of expression is specifically utilized by mariama ba in her famous novel so long a letter. Aws classics so long a letter heinemann african writers. Download so long a letter by mariama ba pdf lagranja. The novel is framed as a letter, written by ramatoulaye, who is 50 and has just been widowed. Ramatoulaye belongs to the generation that grew up under the french colonial regime and came of age just as senegal was achieving its independence. Sep 19, 2011 in so long a letter the late mariama ba offers a sensitive portrayal of womens struggle in her native senegal on the dawn of independence. This african novel captures the everyday frustrations that many women face in western african society, especially after the death of their spouses.
So long a letter is a semiautobiographical epistolary novel originally written in french by the senegalese writer mariama ba. The novel, as the title suggests, is a letter from the protagonist. Analysis of mariama bas novel so long a letter free. So long a letter african writers series edition 1 by. So long a letter summary from litcharts the creators of. I chose this story is because i have been married to a nigerian for the past fourteen years. In keeping with muslim custom, ramatoulaye must observe a mirasse, a fortyday period of isolation and mourning. Like and also, one is a mother in order to understand the inexplicable. The book has been translated from french by modupe bodethomas. I read so long a letter a log time ago in the university for my english class. So long a letter begins when ramatoulaye, a senegalese woman living in dakar, the countrys capital, decides to write a letter to her old friend aissatou, who lives in america. Buy aws classics so long a letter heinemann african writers series. I chose this story is because i have been married to a nigerian for the past fourteen years, and i can remember all the horrible stories i was told of why i should not marry him. Waveland press so long a letter by mariama ba translated.
Mariama ba this novel is in the form of a letter, written by the widowed ramatoulaye and describing her struggle for survival. Patriarchy through the eyes of mariama ba in so long a letter. I commend the fact that this book was made mandatory in several frenchspeaking countries, but should 12 years old kids read this kind of work. So long a letter, begins with a letter being written by ramatoulaye, a senegalese woman living in dakar to her friend aissatou who is living in america. In fact i was disappointed that no one thought to point me towards this book earlier. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
So long a letter has been recognized as one of africas 100 best books of the 20th. Mariama ba s so long a letter rizwana habib latha looks at the issue of feminisms in an african muslim postcolonial context, using the semiautobiographical novella, so long a letter by senegalese writer mariama ba as its basis t nhe semiautobiographical novella, so long a letter by mariama ba. Our lives developed in parallel, and they continue to do so, as both have recently lost their husbands yesterday you were divorced. Aug 20, 20 ba later married a senegalese member of parliament, obeye diop, but divorced him and was left to care for their nine children. Aug 20, 20 that is a powerful and evocative analysis of the book, ndeye. Download so long a letter pdf by mariama ba published in 1979. Her frustration with the fate of african womenas well as her ultimate acceptance of itis expressed in her first novel, so long a letter. So long a letter by mariama ba is an entry in the book 500 great books by women by erica baumeister. I opened this book with very high expectations and i am pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations.
Analysis of so long a letter by mariama ba so long a letter, is a novel written in french by mariama ba. Mariama ba s so long a letter is story that dives deeply into the struggles of being a woman in a society that has no thoughts for your pain. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read so long a letter. Aug 08, 20 so long a letter by mariama ba written by mariama ba and translated from the french by modupe bodethomas, so long a letter won the first noma award for publishing in africa, and was recognized as one of africas 100 best books of the 20th century in an initiative organised by the zimbabwe international book fair. I am part of the goodreads group by the same name, and i have made it a long term goal to read as many of the choices as possible.
In 1981, so long a letter was awarded the first noma award for publishing in. So long a letter, mariama bas first novel, is literally written as a long letter. The brief narrative, written as an extended letter, is a sequence of reminiscencessome wistful, some bitterrecounted by recently widowed senegalese. So long a letter summary and study guide supersummary. What are the setting and plot of so long a letter by. Download so long a letter by mariama ba download free ebooks. Written through awardwinning african novelist mariama ba and translated from the unique french, so lengthy a letter has been famous as one among africas a hundred most sensible books of the 20 th century. The senegalese writer who was born in dakar, senegal, in 1929, was educated unlike many other women of her generation at the ecole normal for girls in rufisque. Mariama is able to capture the emotion and the day to day life of an african woman in a typical african home setting.
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