Une Si Longue LettreBy Mariama Ba.

• The novel “ Une Si Longue Lettre” Translated into English as “So Long a Letter” was written by Senegalese Writer Mariama Ba. The text is a series of reminiscences, some pleasant, some bitter, of the main character Ramatoulaye, who has been recently widowed. A Senegalese school teacher, mother and wife, Ramatoulaye documents her experiences, conflicts and disappointments from the time of her husband’s death.

Overview of the text

The text falls under the theme of “La condition Feminine” and deals with the experiences that many women, specifically African women of the 1960’s. Although the text is set in Africa however, its treatment of women and feminine struggles are not limited to the African Diaspora but are relevant to all women of all races, age, class and ethnicity.

themes

• The novel deals with such themes as: Marriage and Polygamy Motherhood Women roles within and outside of the home. Women as a sex symbol Education and the changing role of women in society Friendship Cultural diversity and the Impact of “Modern”-

Western values and practices on “traditional” customs and social norms.

Religion Social class and Expectations

Themes contd.

• The themes of marriage and Polygamy are perhaps the most predominant themes of the text. In chapter 1, Ramatoulaye informs her friend Aissatou of the death of her husband Modou . However, it is in chapter 2 that Ramatoulaye first mentions her “co-epouse”, Binetou, Modou’s second wife. Throughout the text Ramatoulaye speaks about polygamy and its impact on her and her family, the betrayal of being abandonned and neglected by her husband and being practically disinherited – Chapter 4-5.

• In chapter 5 Ramatoulaye internalizes what Modou has done and laments on the fact that he not only remarried, but that he ceased to take care of her and their 12 children while he lavished on his new wife and her family. Pg.27-29.In her letter to Aissatou, Ramatoulaye likens herself to those who were boen blind or paralyzed as she seeks to makes sense of what has happened to her and the deep resentment she feels for her late husband, his family and his new wife.

• In order to examine the issue of polygamy,one must understand the cultural norms of African society at that time. Polygamy at that time was quite entrenched in African society, in fact in was accepted by most as a cultural norm. In the novel, we see that though the two friends –Ramatoulaye and Aissatou- reacted differently to the situation, they had one thing in common, both women were staunchly in opposition to the second marriages of their husbands and both women saw it as an act of betrayal.

Ramatoulaye recounts the story to us in chapters 11-12 of how Aissatou’s mother in law was responsible for Mawdo’s marriage to Petite Nabou, his first cousin. The narrator describes this action as a malicious attempt of Tante Nabou- Mawdo’s mother- who despised Aissatou because she was considered to come from a lower class pg. 55-69.

• The two chapters give a detailed account of the great lengths to which Aissatou’s mother –in law went in order to put an end to the marriage between Aissatou and her son. On pp. 64-65, we read of Aissatou’s to the remarriage of her husband. In her letter to Mawdo, Aissatou expresses her refusal to accept the marriage of her husband, and describes it as ‘ ... A schematic and unacceptable rule of their society which she refused to accept...’ Aissatou makes it clear to her husband that she could not live with him being married to someone else, that she considered him a coward and his mother to be vile and revengeful. At the end of the letter Aissatou informs her husband that, with nothing but her dignity, she was leaving.

In chapter 13, Ramatoulaye speaks of her own ‘drama’ which takes place 3 years afterwards. In her situation, Modou –her husband of 30 years with whom she has 12 children – discreetly marries the best friend of their oldest daughter, Daba, who is 18 years old. Without her knowledge. pp.70-74.

On page 72, it is revealed to Ramatoulaye through the visit of Tamsir, Modou’s brother, Mawdo, Aissatou’s now ex-husband, and the High Priest of their district, that Modou’s has remarried. We see where Modou has has taken the easy way out and has sent these three men to relay the message if his recent nuptials.

• In this monologue, we see the level of inconsideration for the women affected by polygamy as Ramatoulaye is thanked for her ‘years of service’ “...Modou te remercie. Il dit que la fatalite decide des etres et des autres. Dieu lui a destine une deuxieme femme ...” pg. 73 paragraph 2. we see here that polygamy, my many, and certainly the proponents of it, consider it to be sanctioned by God and supported by the religion of Islam.

Although the text presents the example of the two main characters and their experiences with polygamy, it is important to note that both experienced and reacted to it and strikingly different ways. For Mawdo, it was an act an cowardice to please a controlling manipulative mother, whereas for Modou it was a choice.

conclusion

Also the manner in which the men dealt with the situation was also different. Whereas Mawdo Fall informed his first wife of his marriage and professed his love for her and his desire for her to remain with him pg.64, Modou did the opposite, choosing to marry his young bride, perhaps in an effort to reclaim his youth, and abandonned his first family in order to begin another.

• The women’s reaction also differed tremendously. Aissatou chose to divorce her husband and seek a life for herself and her four sons elsewhere, while Ramatoulaye refused to divorce Modou. Both women represent the different mentalities of both the old and the new emerging face of Africa. The one, accepting and embracing modern or Western values while the other chose to hold on to her traditional values and customs.

• In the novel, we see where the role of mother impacts tremendously on the decision-making of the two women. Again, the women’s manner of dealing with the situation was different. Ramatoulaye was concerned about starting over, after having had 12 children for Modou. Without a doubt, she was cognizant of the challenges of remarrying after having had 12 children. Additionally she worried about the impact this would have on her children. “ Partir? Recommencer a zero?...apres avoir mis au monde douze enfants...? P. 78 paragraph 3.

Woman in her role as mother

• For Aissatou it was a decision which she made despite the encouragement of others to do otherwise, to remain with Mawdo for the sake of her sons. “ on ne brule pas un arbre qui porte des fruits.... Des garcons ne peuvent reussir sans leurs pere” pg.64 paragraph 1. although Aissatou was being discouraged from leaving her husband for the sake of her children, Aissatou chose to leave as she believed that this decision was best for her four boys.

From chapters 22-25 Ramatoulaye speaks to the challenges and difficulties which she faces of raising 12 children of varying ages on her own. From the early pregnancy of her middle child Aissatou to the smoking of her twin girls, Ramatoulaye is forced to find a balance between traditional values and the influence of western culture.

• Ramatoulaye mentions on several occasions how her grandmother had warned her that all children, even when born of the same parents were different. While she is dealing with Aissatou’s pregnancy and the smoking incident with the twins, she is questions her role as a mother and whether or not she had given her children too much liberty. Pg 154. Ramatoulaye wonders if perhaps at fault by allowing them to go out on their own without a chaperone or by allowing them to wear pants- in other words- was she neglectful ih her role as mother because of her acceptance of certain aspects of western tradition?

Traditionally, in many African societies women were seen in terms of their roles of wives and mothers. Ramatoulaye and Aissatou however, represented the emergence of a new class of women. Both were educated and were poised on the threshold between the Old and New Africa. Aissatou was a translator and Ramatoulaye was a school teacher.

education and the role of women in society

• In chapter 7 Ramatoulaye reminds Aissatou of their school days and the white headmistress who wanted them to have futures that were “out of the ordinary”, exceptional for African women. She gives a very vivid description of the school and the rituals they observed: evening songs and prayers. The transition of African society from French Western Africa to an independent Republic allowed them access to an education, different customs and morals.

• And allowed them to appreciate multiple civilizations without renouncing theirs. Ramatoulaye reflects on how the principal ‘believed in the options of the New Africa, in order to promote the condition of the black woman’. Through the reflections of Ramatoulaye, Mariama Ba gives us insight into the social and political condition of African society and the importance\role of education as an instrument of social change.

it is important to note that although both Ramatoulaye and Aissatou were educated women, they were still affected by the social constraints placed on them. in chapter 16 THE reader gets an idea of how women were treated in a society predominantly dominated by men. Financial matters, the paying of bills and fixing things around the house were seen as a man’s domain. Pg.98

Women’s roles within and outside of the home

• However, by the time we get to page 99, we see that Ramatoulaye has begun to embrace her new role, that is, playing the role of both male and female in her household. “ je survivais. Je me debarrasais de ma timidite pour affronter seule les salles de cinema...” Ramatoulaye has become bold against the questioning stares of person who think it strange for a woman of her age to be out in public without a male companion!

Mariama Ba uses the novel to describe the importance of social class and status in Africa at the time. It was important to maintain very strict social boundaries and so it was socially unacceptable for persons of different classes to marry. It was therefore a surprise when Mawdo Ba, a descendant of ‘Royal Blood’ and a recent graduate from medical school, decided to marry the daughter of a jeweller.

Social roles and traditional expectations

“ Quoi, un Toucouleur qui convole avec une bijoutiere? Jamais, il “ n’amassera argent” pg. 40. Aissatou was not considered good enough for Mawdo and it was for this reason that his mother plotted to destroy their marriage, so that the ‘Royal Blood’ could return to its source. “ les enfants de la petite Nabou, les griots diront eux, en les exaltant: “ Le sang est retournes a sa source” pg.63 paragraph 3

The importance of the theme of friendship is very evident throughout the text. The novel itself takes the form of a letter that the narrator is writing to her best friend informing her of her husband’s death. In this letter, she shares many intimate details of not only her husband’s infidelity and betrayal, but also everything she went through as a result of this abandonment.

friendship

Ramatoulaye establishes the longevity of their friendship from the very first page of the text when she declares “ ... Ton existence dans ma vie n’est point par hasard. Nos grands-meresdont les concession etaient separees par une tapade echangeaient journellement des messages.” pg.11

On several occasions Ramatoulaye refers to her as ‘mon amie’ chapter 4 pg. 26

And is invoked on pg. 12 as ‘amie, amie, amie’.

On page 38 Ramatoulaye refers to their friendship as a bond which has become stronger over time. She shares a myriad of information with Aissatou which take place over time in the same way that most women share intimate details about their lives with their ‘bff’

Les personnages feminins sont plus sympathiques a cause de leur role maternel. Discutez.

Le caractere de la femme traditionnelle est plus attirant que celui de la femme moderne. Discutez.

Comment l’auteur traite-t-il le theme de la liberte des femmes dans votre texte?

Examinez le role de la femme comme grand-mere ou comme objet sexuel.

Questions for discussion

La femme dans une societe traditionnelle fait face a des problemes insolubles. Discutez.

Examinez les rapports entre femme dans le texte etudie.