The dialectics of literary voice in Charles Waddell Chesnutt's 'The Conjure Woman' and selected stories

This study is a comprehensive analysis of Charles Waddell Chesnutt's most famous work of fiction, The Conjure Woman, and his other tales of conjuration in which the fictional characters, John and Julius, appear. The two characters are analyzed as participants in "dialectics," the systematic method of weighing contradictory facts or ideas with a view to resolution of real or apparent conflicts. In addition to complex issues of race, slavery, and capitalism implicitly addressed during the verbal exchanges of John and Julius, this study includes a topical analysis of Chesnutt's use of dialect for Julius McAdoo. Chesnutt's treatment of women characters is also included in the study, thereby bringing forth the "selected works" in the study along with Conjure.;In this study, "literary voice" is part of the illusion of fiction, so masterfully handled by Chesnutt. The text of The Conjure Woman is structured as one continuous work of fiction enveloping seven interior tales flowing from the mouth of Julius. The two different worlds of the speakers, John and Julius, are rich in texture and cultural diversity.;In the conclusion of the study, it is shown that the thematic issues in Conjure are reiterated in contemporary works by African-American authors. Future research on Conjure and other works by Chesnutt could analyze the author's use of violence as plot closure, and his inclusion of the "dream" as a catalyst for change in many of his characters. In essence, the fictional works of Charles Waddell Chesnutt most definitely prompt analyses from interdisciplinary perspectives.