Motherlove in Shades of Black : The Maternal Psyche in the Novels of African American Women

This book closely examines the mother figure in six works by African American women at various times in American history: Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Pauline Hopkins's Contending Forces, Nella Larsen's Passing, Gwendolyn Brooks's Maud Martha, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, and Toni Morrison's Beloved. It studies how the mother in each novel negotiates the ragged, hostile landscape of a prohibitive environment to love, protect, and raise her children. Delving far deeper than surface explanations, it is informed by psychological analysis to reveal the forces that create the unique tensions of the African American mother's life, her inspired strategies for survival, and the character of the nurturing she gives her children. This Book Examines The Mother Figure In Six Works: How The Mother Negotiates The Ragged, Hostile Landscape Of A Prohibitive Environment To Love, Protect, And Raise Her Children. Informed By Psychological Analysis, It Reveals The Forces That Create The Unique Tensions Of The African American Mother's Life, Strategies For Survival, And Nurturing She Gives Her Children--provided By Publisher. Foreword By Geneva Smitherman -- Introduction -- Linda Brent: Through A Glass, Darkly -- Sappho Clark: Double Exposure -- Irene Redfield: Smoke And Mirrors -- Maud Martha: Gray, Lined In Silver -- Celie: Emergent Light -- Sethe: Beyond The Pale. Gloria Thomas Pillow ; Foreword By Geneva Smitherman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Acknowledgments 8 Contents 10 Foreword 12 Introduction 14 1. Linda Brent 20 2. Sappho Clark 47 3. Irene Redfield 74 4. Maud Martha 98 5. Celie 122 6. Sethe 149 Chapter Notes 180 Bibliography 188 Index 198 9780786435333