A Womanist Reading Of Alice Walker's Meridian

Alice Walker is an important female writer in contemporary America. She is a novelist, short story writer, essayist, poet and author of children's books. Of particular interest to people are her novels which are full of powerful, strident stories set in America's rural South. Her works mainly explore the struggle of black women and stress the importance of bonds between women in fighting against racism and sexism. She creates a whole series of images of black woman, leading not only black women but all women to a promising future.Meridian, Walker's second novel, also set in the rural South, focuses on the Civil Rights Movement. Meridian commits her life to help the black people fight for equality. In order to find a new self, different from her maternal ancestors, she goes to the South, giving away her son and her family. In the end, she survives the struggles and becomes a model for others to take up the Civil Rights cause.This thesis consists of three chapters in addition to the"Introduction"and"Conclusion"The"Introduction"briefly introduces the author Alice Walker and the novel Meridian with critical reviews.Chapter One mainly deals with the womanist theory, introducing its definitions and its difference from white Feminism.Chapter Two analyzes Meridian with the womanist theory. In this part, the embodiments of womanism are explored. Racism and sexism are the main concern. The text-based analysis proclaims that Meridian is a womanist novel.Chapter Three focuses on black motherhood, which is also an important principle of womanism. In this part, two main characters are the focus: Meridian and her mother, Mrs. Hill. Through these two characters, black motherhood is illustrated with specific examples, suggesting that black motherhood is no easy responsibility for black woman.My conclusion is that Meridian is a carefully created womanist novel. Alice Walker has indicated that only through the union of all people can black women get real equality. But the theory has to develop further to be mature.