Alice Walker - Possessing the Secret of Joy

Alice Walker, author of POSSESSING THE SECRET OF JOY tells a story of female circumcision among a group of people in which the whole concept is based in tradition and female domination.

This tradition is brutally abusive and detrimental to the women of the society. In this society it is also Taboo to speak of the tradition - it's origin, purpose, and consequences.

Characters:
Tashi, Olivia, Adam, Benny, Pierre, M'Lissa, and Lisette.
Tashi and Adam are married. Benny is their retarded son.
Olivia is Adam's sister and Tashi's support/ friend.
Pierre is the son of Adam and Lisette, conceived while Adam is married to Tashi.
M'Lissa is a tsunga.


Tashi is presented as the victim of this cruel tradition, while M'Lissa appears to be the enemy, who continues to force this "initiation" upon the girls of the Olinkas.

M'Lissa and Tashi are shown as two entirely different women with different motives and ideals. As the reader progresses through the novel it is shown how alike these two women actually are. They are both women of this Olinkan society, they are both women who have lost themselves to this Olinkan society, they both must learn to live the rest of their lives dealing with the repercussions of female circumcision. The difference in these women is how they individually learn to cope with the tragedies of their lives.

Alice Walker presents the reader with M'Lissa's point of view which lends for passion and understanding. We , the reader, learn that in the mind of M'Lissa to be a tsunga (female circumsizer)is a tradition as well as an honor.

Audience: 1) Lovers of Alice Walker 2)All women
3)Compassionate people 4)People's person 5)College students
6)Humanitarians

Note: Not an easy read but worthwhile!