Analysis Of Black Milk: On Writing, Motherhood, And The Harem Within

Motherhood is a new chapter of a woman's life. Are all women ready to enter motherhood though? Women think about having children because of the joy and happiness they bring. That it's a necessity for creating a family. Women mention everything that goes on during a pregnancy but not after. In the book “Black Milk: On Writing, Motherhood, and the Harem Within” by Elif shafak, discusses how her life changed after her pregnancy. Elif Shafak was a turkish writer, nomad, and a pacifist until she experienced the devastating feeling of postpartum depression. In September of 2006 Shafak gave birth to a baby girl named Sherazad Zelda. The outcome affected many aspects of her life, but mostly as a writer. Elif shafak had an impact on society because …show more content…
Shafak was very confused and indecisive at first. For instance, “I should call my doctor. But my pride-or-vanity won't let me do it. I don't want anyone to feel sorry about me or make assumptions about my sanity” (Shafak, 214). This quote shows that she did not want to ask for help because she didn't feel want to people to think she was insane. In the end Shafak does get the medical attention she needs. For example “ Finally a doctor said, “Welcome to Postpartum depression. Let's start with two Cipralex a day and sees how it goes” (Shafak, 235). Although Shafak was irresolute before she made the move to get help, women are not the same but this all ties back to getting help and support from loved ones. It is necessary to keep women sane and making sure that they acknowledge the support they have so they can move forward with their life. Therefore, Shafak shows how she progressed through her depression because she was scared of what people would think of her sanity, but indeed got …show more content…
Shafak constantly asked herself the same question: “How is it possible to feel so down when I am, in fact, happy and grateful” (Shafak, 214)? This quote shows how she felt, she was happy and grateful but why was she so down? Mothers can face similar emotions and that is why Shafak impacted these women for the greater good of just comfort. Letting the readers know that they are not alone is a great connection to have between the audience and the writer. Also, “That, pretty much, is the pattern of my progress in life. Take a step forward, move on, fall down, stand up, go back to walking, trip over and fall down on my face again, pull myself up, keep walking….” (Shafak, 267) This quote demonstrates that Shafak saw it as something that is part of life and in moments like these we fall down but we should recover and move past it. Life is not always easy, there will always going to be obstacles but we have to know not only to move past them but learn from