Modernity And Tradition in So Long a Letter- Essay

Running head: SO LONG A LETTER MODERNITY AND TRADITION
SO LONG A LETTER MODERNITY AND TRADITION
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SO LONG A LETTER MODERNITY AND TRADITION1
The aim of this essay is to discuss the semi-autobiographical epistolary novel by
Mariama Bâ, a Senegalese write. The original novel is written in French which reflects the
situation of women in the society of western Africa. This novel is written as a long letter
detailing the life long struggle and values of the women especially widows in the Islam society
of Senegal. In 1980 this particular novel won the first Noma Prize.
As mentioned before, this novel is the representative of the roles of women in the post-
colonial Africa and also shares the ideas regarding he traditions as well as customs in the
contemporary society efficiently. This novel is based on the Senegalese culture, reflected through
a series of letters by the recently widowed woman Ramatoulaye. She is writing this letter to her
best friend Aissatou regarding the former’s husband’s death. Along with this, she recounts major
events in their lives. This letter bears many grieving stages as well as traditional mourning events
that directly connects the readers to understand the place of women in the Senegalese family and
society (Adedipe).
The dominant religion in the country is Islam and more than 90% of people of the
country follow this religion and its traditions (Warner). For this reason, Ramatoulaye had to
mourn over more than three months as her husband Modou from a massive hearth attack. Modou
had spent thirty years of marriage life with Ramatoulaye and had twelve children. However, as
the Islam transition allows for polygamy, he had married another woman Binetou but spent only
four years of married life with her after which he died (Brewer). Ramatoulaye however had
always been supported by her best friend who herself had divorced her husband for having
another wife. Both of these women are the part of a polygamist relationship. In both the cases,
Ramatoulaye as well as her best friend Aissatou are the victims of marriage in the Islam society