RAMATOULAYE
Ramatoulaye plays the role of a feminist in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter. She advocates for women’s right, denounces unfair treatment of women and proclaims equal opportunity of both men and women within the domains of education, politics, employment and marriage. Ramatoulaye calls for equality in politics in the lines of “four women, Daouda, four out of a hundred deputies. What a ridiculous ratio! Not even one for each province”. Ramatoulaye also states ‘women are not incendiaries, rather stimulants. Women have a right just as men have to education, to equal well-paid employment, to equal opportunities and right to vote’. Daouda vindicates Ramatoulaye’s thoughts on feminism and said “women should no longer be decorative accessories, objects to be moved about, and companions to be flattered, women are the nation’s fundamental root from which all else grows and blossoms. Women should be encouraged to take keener interest in the destiny of the country’. Ramatoulaye further states “Nearly twenty years of independence! When will we have the first female minister involved in the decisions concerning the development of Our country? And yet the militancy and the ability of Our women, their disinterested commitment, have already been demonstrated. Women have raised more than one man in power”. In terms of education, Ramatoulaye defends women in the sentence of “when will education be decided for children on the basis not of sex but of talent”. Another instance of Ramatoulaye’s ideas on feminism is when she emphasized the roles of women in marriage in the lines of “Those women we call house wives deserve praise. The domestic work they carry out, and which is not paid in hard cash, is essential to the home. The management of the home is an art. We have learned the hard way, and it is still not over. Even deciding on the menus is not easy”. Ramatoulaye is indeed a patriotic character in the novel.
Ramatoulaye plays the role of responsible wife and mother. Ramatoulaye represents wives who for the sake of their children, endure pains and perform the abandoned responsibilities of their husbands”. Ramatoulaye states that “I cried every day. From then on, my life changed. I had prepared myself for equal sharing. I was left with empty hands. I lived in a vacuum. And Modou avoided me. He never came again, his new found happiness gradually swallowed up his memory of us. He forgot us”. Ramatoulaye also expressed her pains in the lines of “in addition to my former duties, I took over Modou’s as well. The purchase of foodstuffs kept me occupied at the end of every month. My brain was taxed by new financial gymnastics. The last date for payment of electricity bills and of water rates demanded my attention. I was often the only woman in the queue. Replacing the locks and latches of broken doors and windows as well as looking for a plumber to deal with block sinks”. Ramatoulaye endured much pain when she states that “I faced up to the situation bravely, managing the family budget requires flexibility, vigilance and prudence in performing the financial gymnastics that send you from one more or less dangerous leap to another, from the first to the last day of the month. To be a woman! To live the life of a woman!”. Despite Ramatoulaye’s sufferings, she equally performs her duties of cooking, washing, training and ensuring the safety of all her children.
Ramatoulaye plays the roles of a teacher and a counsellor. She is dutiful in terms of imparting knowledge and skills, inculcating religious and moral values, and in empowering the youth on education, personal development and on a healthy life that is characterized with peace. About her teaching, she states “Each profession, intellectual or manual deserves consideration, whether it requires painful physical effort, wide knowledge or the patience of an ant. Ours like that of doctors, does not allow for mistake. You don’t joke with life, and life is both body and mind. Teachers at the kindergarten and university level, form a noble army. An army forever vigilant, everywhere plants the flag of knowledge and morality. Humble teachers in humble local schools. How faithfully we served our profession, and how we spent ourselves in order to do it in honor. We had learned how to practice, taught the novices how to apply, in the lesson we gave our knowledge of psychology and method”. About her counselling on house works, Ramatoulaye states that “a working woman is no less responsible for her home. Nothing is done if you do not step in, that you have to see to everything, do everything all over again. The working woman has a dual task of which both halves, equally arduous”.
To conclude, Ramatoulaye, the protagonist is a patriotic and a feminist character that reflects on the future of her country, the role of tradition in modern life and the prospects of women’s liberation. She is a devoted Muslim, mother, wife and a teacher.
AISSATOU
Aissatou is an inspiration to young women in polygamous marriages. Aissatou inspires Ramatoulaye and her daughter – Daba for taking responsibility of her life after divorcing her husband. If the purpose of marriage is for partners to support each other and to have equal share in each other’s feelings of pain and love, then that of Aissatou is unbearable. Aissatou took a bold decision and divorce her husband Mawdo Fall based on his maltreatment and marrying of a second wife called Nabou. If Mawdo loves Aissatou, he would not marry a second wife (Nabou) in order to break her (Aissatou) heart with irresponsibility and lack of attention. A love without practice is no love. Aissatou does not see the need of being a first wife without attention, support and love of her husband. A wife hardly gains something in a marriage without peace, love and support. Aissatou believes that life, peace, and self-confidence are better means of achieving success than staying in a marriage that the husband has no value for the comfort, sufferings and hard works of his wife. Aissatou for example states in her letter to Mawdo “I cannot accept what you are offering me today in place of the happiness we once had. You want to draw a line between heartfelt love and physical love. I say there can be no union of bodies without the heart’s acceptance … I am stripping myself of your love, your name”. The peace and independence that Aissatou obtained from divorce supports the fact that every good plan is achievable as long as there is life, good health and determination. Marriage is not a guarantee of personal esteem, personal development and peace. After all, Jacqueline died out of depression and chronic diseases because she could not liberate herself from her painful experiences with her husband, Samba Diack. Aissatou could not bear the pains in polygamous marriage, she divorced her husband and life goes on. Jacqueline remains in her marital pains with hope for change and died out of depression.
Aissatou believes in self-development and women empowerment. The success of Aissatou especially in attending school and gaining an employment in an American embassy after her divorce is a proof that women are capable to develop themselves despite all odds. Greater chance awaits any woman who takes a bold step to come out of painful situations. Aissatou represents determination and endurance. The ability of a woman to attain greater heights does not rely so much on marriage than perseverance. Aissatou established herself and took care of her children.
Aissatou is a loyal friend to Ramatoulaye. Ramatoulaye is convinced that friendship is more resilient and rewarding than marital love. Ramatoulaye emphasizes the essence of her friendship with Aissatou in the sentences of “Friendship has splendors that love knows not. It grows stronger when crossed, whereas obstacles kill love. Friendship resists time, which wearies and severs couple”. The moral support they offer each other is complemented by material assistance. Aissatou for example bought car for her friend, Ramatoulaye. Aissatou restores Ramatoulaye’s dignity and also offer her new possibilities to express herself. Aissatou is indeed Ramatoulaye’s friend in need.
Aissatou is a responsible mother. Aissatou did not abandon her four children or leave them with their father because she foresees the sufferings of children who grow up with their step mothers. Aissatou understands the problems of children growing up without a mother’s care that is why she takes her children along, sends them to school and provides them the needed love and care of a mother. The motherly role of Aissatou indicates that, a mother is a child’s second God on earth because all her sacrifices, love and care are for the betterment of her children. Aissatou protects her children because children are treasures and sources of a mother’s happiness.
MOUDOU
Modou is a union organizer and a politician. Modou marry Ramatoulaye despite the disagreement of Ramatoulaye’s parents because of the initial affection that they have for each other. However, Modou’s love for Ramatoulaye fades as both of them grow old. Modou is described as charming, handsome and scholarly, notwithstanding the saying that appearances are sometimes deceptive. Modou plays the role of an irresponsible father. He overlooks the problems of rivalry and the sufferings of his first wife, and marry a second wife. With regards to a wife’s pains of pregnancy, labor/childbirth, providing support to the children/husband, engaging in other occupation and house chores, it is unbearable/meaningless if her husband should add additional pains by marrying a second wife or maltreating her. Modou marry Binetou without informing his first wife Ramatoulaye. He abandons his wife, twelve children and all his responsibilities as a father. The title head of a family (husband) is not enough. Love, care, respect and responsibilities matters in marriage. The marriage of Modou and Ramatoulaye begins well but did not end well because Modou breaks the heart of Ramatoulaye with irresponsibility and issues of rivalry.
Modou plays the roles of an extravagant husband. He is extravagant because he did not spend what he and his first wife labored for well. Modou for instance abandoned his first wife – Ramatoulaye and neglects his responsibilities that include payment of school fees, light bills, and provision of food because he married the young girl, Binetou of whom he pays monthly salaries as a second wife. Binetou and her mother who once suffered from severe poverty now enjoy luxurious life based on Modou’s sponsorship. Modou sponsors the night clubs, signs bank notes, buys cars, jewelries and supplies foods to Binetou and her family. Binetou’s mother takes delight in displaying wealth because his daughter intrudes the marriage of a rich man that she calls sugar daddy. Modou married Ramatoulaye for 25 years but he later abandoned her and their 12 children. Modou lavishes gifts and money on young Binetou at the expense of his family’s need.
JACQUELINE
Jacqueline is the wife of Samba Diack. She moves from Ivory coast to Senegal. She is a Christian who married a Muslim man that her parents are not in support of. Jacqueline suffers in her marriage because her in-laws do not like her as a Christian, her husband cheats on her and above all she has no place of comfort because her parents warn her against the marriage (a Christian versus Moslem marriage). When she finds out that her husband is unfaithful, she becomes extremely sick and died out of chronic sicknesses that result from a broken heart and depression. Jacqueline represents wives/mothers who endure marital pains in silence with the hope of seeing a positive change. Unfortunately, mothers who harbor marital pains at heart sometimes die like Jacqueline and leave their husbands to enjoy the success of their children.
Mariama Ba uses the character of Jaqueline to educate readers that love is not the only thing that makes marriage successful but a careful consideration of character, culture and beliefs (religion) of partners involve in the marriage. Beauty/appearance attracts but character and responsibility sustain marriage. Learning from or building on someone’s experience is mostly helpful than complacency in selecting a partner for marriage. Jacqueline finds herself in uncomfortable marriage because she did not listen to her parents who advise her from experience. Mariama Ba also uses the situation of Jaqueline to highlight the point that a person’s progress, happiness and success in the future sometimes depend on who he or she is married to. A person’s decision in selecting a partner for marriage is a foundation to his/her future sadness or happiness. Jaqueline embraces sadness because she made a wrong choice in marrying Samba Diack.
Minor Characters In ‘So Long A Letter’
MAWDO: Mawdo is a doctor. He married Aissatou. They had four children. Aissatou divorced him because he married a second wife called Nabou. The character of Mawdo is similar to Moudou’s character. Both of them are Muslims, they married a second wife and they did not treat their first wives well.
DAOUDA DIENG: He is a prominent politician whose love proposal Ramatoulaye turns down in favor of Modou when they were young. He is a Muslim but he did not marry a second wife. He is an advocate of women’s liberation and empowerment.
SAMBA DIACK: he is the husband of Jacqueline. He is a Muslim. Samba Diack did not see anything wrong with polygamy because Islamic religion approves it but Jacqueline considers his acts of polygamy as unfaithfulness in marriage because Christian religion frowns on polygamy. The depression and death of his wife Jacqueline is based on his attempts to marry more than one.
Credit to MADAM SITSOFE GANU
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
S. D. A. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
ASOKORE – KOFORIDUA.