Sisterhood In Mama Day Analysis

She represents women oppressed because of their strength and sexuality. Because of her refusal to accept the role of slave and because of her knowledge of nature and female sexuality, she was given the title as witch. As an expression of natural forces and as an inheritance from the legendary mother of the community, when Sapphira Wade liberated herself from her white husband and master, Bascombe Wade, in 1823. Sapphira Wade initiated a tradition of female power as well as religious tradition like Candle Walk and strengthened the myth of the great conjure woman on hand at God’s creation of the island. She was also legendary for bringing into the open the unresolved tensions between men and women. Miranda feels largely an unconscious sisterhood …show more content…
Full sisterhood in Mama Day also implies working out relationships between women and men. Ophelia will die and the historical line of conjure women will die out unless she is saved by George. Only through his sacrificial death can Ophelia recover from Ruby’s conjuring and inherit the sisterly legacy from the past. George’s death also makes it possible for Miranda to die in peace exactly when she plans to at the beginning of the new century. Naylor does show that the women can transcend men and have power of their own but often at the price of tragic loss for men. The men in the novel tend generously to support the women up to a point and are respected by Miranda for uprightness and strength. Bascombe Wade had freed his slaves out of love for Sapphira, yet he could not let her go, not get beyond the possessiveness of male love. John Paul, Miranda’s father, was a sensitive woodcarver who despaired over his wife’s madness but could not let her go. Bernice’s Ambush and Ophelia’s George offer their wives a rich love but George is limited by childhood insecurities and certain masculine attitudes toward women that cause