The Expression of Gender Equality in Three American Narratives the Slum, Sab and Beloved
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Texas A&M International University Research Information Online Theses and Dissertations 7-17-2021 The Expression of Gender Equality in Three American Narratives The Slum, Sab and Beloved Yasmin L. Shariff Follow this and additional works at: https://rio.tamiu.edu/etds Recommended Citation Shariff, Yasmin L., "The Expression of Gender Equality in Three American Narratives The Slum, Sab and Beloved" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 161. https://rio.tamiu.edu/etds/161 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Research Information Online. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Research Information Online. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. THE EXPRESSION OF RACIAL AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THREE AMERICAN NARRATIVES: THE SLUM, SAB, AND BELOVED A Thesis by YASMIN LAYLA SHARIFF Submitted to Texas A&M International University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS August 2020 Major Subject: English The Expression of Racial and Gender Equality in Three American Narratives: The Slum, Sab, and Beloved Copyright 2020 Yasmin Layla Shariff THE EXPRESSION OF RACIAL AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THREE AMERICAN NARRATIVES: THE SLUM, SAB, AND BELOVED A Thesis by YASMIN LAYLA SHARIFF Submitted to Texas A&M International University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved as to style and content by: Chair of Committee, Deborah Scaggs Committee Members, Nathaniel Racine Irma Cantu Adam Kozaczka Head of Department, Jonathan Murphy August 2020 Major Subject: English iv ABSTRACT The Expression of Racial and Gender Equality in Three American Narratives: The Slum, Sab, and Beloved (August 2020) Yasmin Layla Shariff, B. A., Texas A&M International University; Chair of Committee: Dr. Deborah Scaggs The pages to follow examine literary representation of people of color, particularly women, in regards to racial and gender equality in a nineteenth century hemispherically American context. The Slum (1890), Sab (1841), and Beloved (1987), though from different countries, and time periods, present a continuum of the intersectional struggle for equality in the ongoing narrative of the Americas hemispherically. “American” and “Hemispherical” refers to North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean in a political and sociological sense. These novels are set side by side to highlight the historical and societal similarities. The characters in this literature reflect American society in a variety of ways, from surviving slavery to living in relative freedom and from being voiceless in literature to various literary voices expressed. In addition, the novels analyzed create a narrative for the subjugated specific to African- Americans and mixed-race people that highlights the importance of matriarchal voices. Also, the novels analyzed highlight a growing awareness of intersectional themes represented in literature. While Beloved is the “best” of the three works by today’s standards in regards to sensitivity to v the intersectional issues at hand, without the kind of representation in the earlier narratives, ideas about race and gender would be stagnant. As a result of the growing literary awareness of intersectional themes one can examine Beloved as it provides profound subjectivity with the various African American matriarchal narratives creating a polyphony of voices. What links the texts are the author’s attempts to confront racist and misogynistic paradigms and express a multitude of realities. The Slum by Aluisio Azevedo, Sab by Gertrudis Avellaneda, and Beloved by Toni Morrison contribute to the dialogue of racial and gender oppression in the Americas by providing a wide spectrum of women’s narratives. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my amazingly hardworking, kind, and insightful committee chair, Dr. Deborah Scaggs. Without her wisdom, this project would not have made it to its fruition. I am indebted to her for her guidance; she will always be special to me for her inspiration and her belief in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I must also thank wholeheartedly my friend and co-worker at Harmony School of Excellence-Laredo, Roy Gonzales. His help with formatting and editing was crucial in the completion of this project. I would also like to thank my friend and writing consultant for graduate students, Franco Zamora, who has my deepest gratitude to the time spent formatting and polishing up this thesis with me. His encouragement was also priceless. I wish to offer my heartfelt and eternal gratitude to my husband, David Cabrera, for all his unwavering support, inspiring patience, flow of intelligent insights, and love. This work would not have been made possible without his constant loving involvement with the children and true friendship to me. Our long conversations about the history of oppression and resistance movements, especially in American context have proven invaluable. You are the glue that keeps our little family together. In addition, I must thank my children, Husayn and Hunter, who inspire me to be my best self every day just by being the amazing beings they are. Also, I must express my love and gratitude to my parents, Marcia and Habib Shariff, and brother, Tariq Shariff, for all their care and support. I hope I make you eternally proud. Dad, I wish to be the continuation of your dream that began in 1963 when you emigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan to attend college yourself. Lastly, but certainly not least, this is dedicated to all who suffered and experienced subjugation, regardless of time or place historically, our struggle and our voices are one. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. vii I INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Liberation Narratives .................................................................................................... 1 A “Polyphony” of Voices in Sab, The Slum, and Beloved............................................ 5 Historical Background .................................................................................................. 6 Sab, The Slum, and Beloved within a Historical Context ............................................. 8 II LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................11 Introduction to the Literary Theorists ......................................................................... 11 Matriarchal Narratives in Literary Theory .................................................................. 11 An All-Inclusive Literary Theory: .............................................................................. 20 A Multiplicity of Worldviews and Lexicons Expressed in Narratives ....................... 20 Empowering Narratives .............................................................................................. 22 An Inclusive Theory of Literature .............................................................................. 24 III THE SLUM.........................................................................................................................26 Introduction to the Novel with a Prevalent Theme ..................................................... 26 An Unusual Voice in the Matriarchal Polyphony: Leonie.......................................... 27 Predatory Relationships: Joao and Bertoleza .............................................................. 31 An Orientalist Relationship: Jeronimo and Rita ......................................................... 32 The Criticism of Societal Objectification of Women in The Slum ............................. 34 The Positivist Paradigms in The Slum ........................................................................ 37 Women’s Inequality as Expressed in The Slum .......................................................... 43 Latin American Positivism as Expressed in The Slum................................................ 45 Women’s Inequality as Expressed in The Slum .......................................................... 46 Azevedo’s Social Criticism of Nineteenth Century Brazil ......................................... 48 A Polyphony of Narratives: Objectified Women in Nineteenth Century Brazil ........ 50 IV SAB .....................................................................................................................................53 An Introduction to the Novel and the Author ............................................................. 53 The Angelic Female Protagonist ................................................................................. 57 Supporting Character as Heroine ................................................................................ 60 Matriarchal Narrative .................................................................................................. 62 viii Sab as the Main Protagonist .......................................................................................