Alice Walker: Roselily, Love & Trouble for Black Women

Alice Walker is an American author who is famous due to her previously published work that has being influential in world literature (Walker, 1986). In 1973, the author included the "Roselily" in the short collection stories to depict love and trouble that black women were experiencing. The story is centered on an African-American woman living a poor life in the Southern part of America. The narrator considered marrying a rich Muslim man from North who she barely knows; this is attributed by the escalated desire to escape poverty and living a profound life (Walker, 1986). The author divided the story into eleven wedding proclamation sections to progressively predict the protagonist's thinking in every section. Comprehensive knowledge of the Roselily story can be drawn from close analysis of; setting, themes and symbolism and imagery.

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Analysis of Roselily

The eleven sections outlined in the story helps the audience to effectively comprehend Roselily's substandard life and the unnamed prospective groom (Walker, 1986). Notably, Roselily lives in Panther Burn, which is a rural community within Mississippi; this region defines the protagonist's impoverished life where she survives by sewing and picking cotton. The paltry wages acquired from the two jobs is not enough to cater for the children; this makes Roselily hungry for life-changing opportunities (Walker, 1986). Meeting the Black Chicago Muslim was considered a perfect opportunity since the man was armed with a plan of flying Roselily and the children to Chicago after the marriage and give them a stable life. Roselily is willing to secure wealthy life at the expense of her love and religion. By referring the Christian's God as fake, the groom escalates Roselily's guilt making her uncertain about what should be believed about God. Roselily is a good example of impossible choices and stunning examinations facing the women of color as they strive to escape hardship and poverty within their vicinity (Walker, 1986). Lastly, the story shows that it is possible to escape poverty; however, that does not guarantee an escape from the loneliness.

Setting of Roselily

The story is structured in an African-American culture that entails call and response to variety and familiar sacred traditions (Walker, 1986). By considering the Southern setting, the author intents to introduce basic patterns and historical forms of Africa-American culture that seems to be different from the Northern culture endorsed by the groom. Notably, Roselily portrays silent responses to her imaginations, contrasts and wedding vows; these are not romantic terms rather potential realities of culture and religious differences (Walker, 1986). The use of the Southern front-porch for the wedding made the wedding occasion public integrating cultures at the expense of genuine love. The Southern wedding showcased how women's fate is evaluated using call and response lenses, cultural space, pre-marital sex, migration, earlier pregnancies and community censorship. Notably, the Southern part of the US is considered rich in black life where culture is integrated into both sacred and secular traditions (Walker, 1986). The collaboration between the congregation and the preacher is a good example of call and response; this presents a sympathetic relationship between the masses and the singled out individual.

Themes

The essentiality of using themes to convey the central idea in the story is recognized through the introduction of two underlining themes that include; alienation and loneliness and change and transformation (Walker, 1986). Firstly, Roselily is an unwed mother living a lonely life in a small rural town; despite having many friends, her senses are alienated from the people around the vicinity. Notably, the narrator described how Roselily is filled with doubt despite standing beside the groom, who is her future husband: "Stiff severity" (Walker, 1986). Being a single mother had made Roselily a threat to women who perceive her as husband snatcher; this alienates her from community connection filling her experience with sensational loneliness. Secondly, Roselily life is characterized by change and transformation. Having been living a poor life in the South, Roselily is not well exposed beyond the rural community she has lived for years. Unless Roselily endorses a change, her children will likely develop in "detrimental and underneath wheel" (Walker, 1986). The Black Muslim is the instrument of transformation in Roselily's life despite the misgiving and daydreaming traits of the protagonist. The two themes are effectively utilized, conveying the central idea of the story.

Symbolism and Imagery

The author used both symbolism and imagery to link specific objects, actions, characters, and scenes, values and abstracts ideas together making the story more interesting and meaningful (Walker, 1986). The author used symbolism in the Roselily story to represents the limited choices of black women in the era of believing that men should hold women. The symbolism depicts woman's dependency on man to secure profound future; the text can affirm this since Roselily has limited choices to make in the presence of what she termed as a lifetime opportunity to escape poverty. Additionally, the author uses a groom from Chicago to symbolize opportunity and a new life. On the other hand, the frequent use of imagery (smiles and metaphors) in the story portrays Roselily character. By using, "Cotton to be weighed...", the author intended to compare the current state of emptiness of Roselily with the awaited heavier moments after the marriage (Walker, 1986). "Explain more of what he meant", confirms the use of metaphor prompting the desire to know the exact meaning of the used words (Walker, 1986). Lastly, the two stylistic devices enrich the context of the story escalating suspense and mindfulness.

Ultimately, compiling the analysis, setting, symbolism and imagery and themes has aided in presented the central idea of the story. Firstly, the analysis compares life in the rural area of South America (protagonist' home) with life in Chicago, where the unnamed groom lives; this shows how environmental disadvantages triggers poverty. Secondly, the Southern setting was used to presents distinct cultural and traditions that guide the community members as well as cautioning them against violating norms. Thirdly, themes are used to present the central idea of the story in a professional way. Thirdly, the symbolism and imagery used in the story represent stylistic devices that enrich the context of the story engaging the target audience effectively. Lastly, the author succeeded in revealing how self-happiness can be sacrificed to better children's life.

Reference

Walker, A. (1986). Roselily. Goldmann.