Analytical Criticism: Women of Brewster Place
Tyra Hinton
AP English III
Ms. Parrish
20 April 2012
Strength in Numbers Gloria Naylor, one of the most renowned writers in the African American culture, coexisting the 20th century wrote, The Women of Brewster Place, with the intent of giving hope to African American women around the world. As Naylor, wrote the book, she used pastoral interludes to keep God as the scapegoat for the women; however, she constantly contradicts the faith of Christianity by the situations they go through, such as: the characters ability to dream, (forcing them to doubt their faith and lust after things that are familiar to them), the characters having to suffer domestic violence, and the characters response to the tragedy they are faced with, in trying to be loved. The Women of Brewster Place is a fictional portrayal of events that conspire during the challenging times of several women’s lives (Mattie Michaels, Etta Mae Johnson, Kiswana Browne, Lucielia ‘Ciel’ Louise Turner, Cora Lee, Lorraine, and Theresa). The novel consists of a second person omniscient view, allowing the reader to gain insight of the characters thoughts and feelings. The plotline is centered around the results of the civil rights movement, and takes place in the community of Brewster Place. As the world is fighting for equality of race and gender, Brewster Place serves as the resemblance of the world at large, filling itself with corrupt individuals. Despite the fact that Brewster Place is filled with corrupt individuals, it exists on the friendship and unity that each of the women contain in each other. Internal evidence suggests that Naylor was Jehovah Witness and portrayed this in most of her novels, however, “there was an incredible explosion of black literature at the time and Naylor didn't even realize it. She witnessed for seven years, supporting herself as a switchboard operator, but eventually left the Jehovah's Witnesses because things weren't getting better, but worse”(Hall), making this
AP English III
Ms. Parrish
20 April 2012
Strength in Numbers Gloria Naylor, one of the most renowned writers in the African American culture, coexisting the 20th century wrote, The Women of Brewster Place, with the intent of giving hope to African American women around the world. As Naylor, wrote the book, she used pastoral interludes to keep God as the scapegoat for the women; however, she constantly contradicts the faith of Christianity by the situations they go through, such as: the characters ability to dream, (forcing them to doubt their faith and lust after things that are familiar to them), the characters having to suffer domestic violence, and the characters response to the tragedy they are faced with, in trying to be loved. The Women of Brewster Place is a fictional portrayal of events that conspire during the challenging times of several women’s lives (Mattie Michaels, Etta Mae Johnson, Kiswana Browne, Lucielia ‘Ciel’ Louise Turner, Cora Lee, Lorraine, and Theresa). The novel consists of a second person omniscient view, allowing the reader to gain insight of the characters thoughts and feelings. The plotline is centered around the results of the civil rights movement, and takes place in the community of Brewster Place. As the world is fighting for equality of race and gender, Brewster Place serves as the resemblance of the world at large, filling itself with corrupt individuals. Despite the fact that Brewster Place is filled with corrupt individuals, it exists on the friendship and unity that each of the women contain in each other. Internal evidence suggests that Naylor was Jehovah Witness and portrayed this in most of her novels, however, “there was an incredible explosion of black literature at the time and Naylor didn't even realize it. She witnessed for seven years, supporting herself as a switchboard operator, but eventually left the Jehovah's Witnesses because things weren't getting better, but worse”(Hall), making this