Critical Analysis of Sue Monk Kidd's 'The Invention of Wings' Novel

This essay provides a critical analysis of Sue Monk Kidd's 'The Invention of Wings,' focusing on themes of family values, societal restrictions in the 19th century, and friendship, particularly from a feminist perspective. The novel, set in Charleston, South Carolina, explores the concept of slavery through the experiences of Sarah Grimke and her waiting maid, Handful. It examines literary devices such as symbolism and character contradictions to reveal the struggle of women against patriarchal norms. The analysis highlights the bond between Sarah and Handful, the portrayal of male characters, and the historical context of women's rights and abolition. Ultimately, the essay concludes that the novel is a powerful depiction of women's empowerment and a critique of slavery, offering readers a unique perspective on women's position in 19th-century society.

Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ‘THE INVENTION OF WINGS’
Critical Analysis of ‘The Invention of Wings’
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1CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ‘THE INVENTION OF WINGS’
The theme of the novel ‘The invention of the wings’ by Sue Monk Kidd revolves
around family values, restriction of 19th century society, and friendship. In the addition, from
the perspective of feminism (Gordon and Linda), this novel narrates a story of women who
are struggling hard to escape the regulations of patriarchal society. The conception of slavery
has been depicted from various dimensions. This essay will critically analyse the novel with
the help of major literary devices like themes, symbolism, setting and the contradictive nature
of the characters.
The novel covers a span of 35 years and set in the backdrop of 19th century society of
Charleston, South Carolina. The entire literary piece has been written in first person narrative
and possess the attributes of ideal 19th century literature (Jockers, Matthew and David
Mimno). It begins with Sarah Grimke’s 11th birthday, the little girl belong to the high-class
society and as per the tradition receives a waiting maid (female slave), Hetty Handful
Grimke, as birthday present from her family. Society, back at that time was programmed in a
way where upper class people were allowed to have slaves in their service. They were part of
other household necessities as well as were not considered as human. The maid was a little
girl of ten years age and she believes, she is not destined for slavery. Sarah, being a rebel,
does not approve her as waiting maid instead she establishes friendship with Handful and
starts to teach her reading. Society was against women literacy traditionally according to the
setting, this practice of reading and teaching eventually stops when her father discovers that.
Consequently, he restricts his daughter’s entry to his library, forbids her brother, Thomas, to
teach her Latin, and whips Handful as her punishment. Sarah eventually determines to make
Handful free from the bondage and this symbolizes the idea of escapism from the chains
patriarchy.
The major theme according to feminists is the establishment of women power against
patriarchal society. Apart from that, the theme of friendship, family values, human rights

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come up in front. In the course of the novel, both the girls possess a concrete bond of family.
Handful’s mother expresses her concern about her daughter to Sarah that how badly she
wants her to escape from slavery in search of a beautiful future. She makes a commitment of
making her free without having a second thought even though Sarah is confined within
society norms and values. Although, there are contradictions between two characters as far as
financial condition and social position are concerned, yet both of them have been connected
with each other as being a woman they share the same position. In order to describe the
friendship, Handful shares a narration, which is much critical to the context of their
relationship. In her narration, she expresses her concern about losing her friend as they
belong from different backgrounds and doubts whether Sarah promises forever friendship out
of love or guilt. Strong sense of morality has been found while criticising the character’s
concern for their family and friends.
Male characters of the novel have been portrayed as bossy and traditional. Despite Mr
Grimke’s realization that her daughter has the potential to be a jurist only if she were a male
child. In this context Sarah says, “My aspiration to become a jurist had been laid to rest in the
graveyard of failed hopes, an all-female establishment.” In spite of having, the courage of
standing against the family she does not dares to go against her father’s wish because of
possessing a strong family value. However, after the death of her father with the influence of
Handful she started her life independently and advocated women rights. According to the
article by (Fernández and Raquel), readers can receive a perception of women’s position in
19th century American society. Being aware of her commitment to Handful’s mother, she
helped her to attain freedom in the end. In the addition, Handful knows how to read and
write, which works as a positive influence on her desire of freedom. Throughout the novel,
the characters share bond of love, friendship and interpersonal responsibility, which supports

3CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ‘THE INVENTION OF WINGS’
the fact that a strong woman is capable of proving strength to others as far as breaking the
false society norms is concerned.
When in the novel Sarah spoke against the norms regarding rights of women she
questions human rights as well in terms of practicing slavery in the 19th century (Garbe and
Chelsea). According to the perception of Kidd, an idea develops on how the society has been
categorised women or set occupational restrictions (Kidd et al.). Lack of literacy, as well as
how their family values control their orientation, those ideas have been developed (Bigman
and Daniel). As the time progresses, women characters realise that, they have to invent their
own wings. No one would come unexpectedly, with the blessing of freedom. The characters
are exposed to the realisation of self-worth and eventually invent what they are capable of
doing towards the end of the novel. In between the symbol of wings and birds have been
included to deliver the sense of freedom as well.
With a skilful grace the author has delineates every abusive event whether it is
physical or mental torture (Nystrom and Kenneth). The terrible history of slavery has been
exposed to the modern readers. Based on the historical context of the Grimke sister’s
contribution in establishing the socio-economic position of the women and the slaves against
the oppressive nature of patriarchal world this novel has been developed (Bailey and Megan).
Hence, it can be concluded on the note that, Kidd’s ‘The invention of wings’ is not
only an account of women’s empowerment over patriarchal society yet a strong idea about
the practice of slavery grows after a detail reading. The alternative first person narratives
from Sarah and Handful reveal both sides of the coin. Readers achieve a clarity regarding the
contrast yet are able to bridge the gap in terms of women’s position in the society. The entire
narration of the novel deserves an appreciation; female characters ventilate their views and

4CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ‘THE INVENTION OF WINGS’
experiences cannot be considered as a regular phenomenon of 19th century, such a narrative is
unique as well as compliments the theme of women empowerment.

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References
Bailey, Megan. "The Grimké Sisters: Radical Defenders of Women’s Rights and
Abolition." Best Integrated Writing 3.1 (2016): 5.
Bigman, Daniel P. "Mapping social relationships: geophysical survey of a nineteenth-century
American slave cemetery." Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 6.1 (2014): 17-30.
Fernández, Raquel. "Women’s rights and development." Journal of Economic Growth 19.1
(2014): 37-80.
Garbe, Chelsea B. "Racial Impartiality: The Women of the Abolition Movement as Depicted
in Dessa Rose and The Invention of Wings." (2015).
Gordon, Linda. "Gerda Lerner: Leftist and Feminist." Journal of Women's History 26.1
(2014): 31-36.
Jockers, Matthew L., and David Mimno. "Significant themes in 19th-century
literature." Poetics 41.6 (2013): 750-769.
Kidd, Sue Monk, Jenna Lamia, and Adepero Oduye. The invention of wings. Tinder Press,
2014.
Nystrom, Kenneth C. "The Bioarchaeology of Structural Violence and Dissection in the 19th‐
Century United States." American Anthropologist 116.4 (2014): 765-779.