A Study Of Womanism In Alice Walker's Early Novels

Among the feminist writes, Alice Walker is unique. She does not only protest against the patriarchy as the white feminist writers do. Walker points out that the American black women face more difficulties because they are oppressed not only by the white race but also by the male sex. And therefore, what Walker proposes for the Afro-American women is a more appropriate road --womanism. And womanism succinctly summarizes her thoughts of creation, which are also embodied in the themes and narrative techniques of her works.Of course, Walker's thoughts of creation undergo a process of development. This thesis studies how Walker's womanist thoughts evolve in her first three novels, focusing on the two areas of the theme and the narrative strategy. It argues that Walker's advocacy of womanism through her literary practice helps open up the possibility of diverse literary criticism, and reveals the writer's serious concern with the reality of her people's lives.