Women’s Natural Role/Job

2. Women’s Natural Role/Job

The concept of black woman respectability as a part of Black Madonna movement which emerged in the early 20 th century tried to promote the ―respectable black woman ‖ who fit the image of the ideal woman. This movement was successfully done as many black women changed their perception on ideal woman in accordance to the concept of true womanhood. They believed on white perception that women should be passive, devoted mothers, impeccable homemakers, cook, seamstress, and gardeners (Hagler, 1980). As written by Bell Hooks:

…. Black people no longer passively accepted that racial oppression has always forced the black female to be as independent and hardworking as black men; they were demanding that she be more passive, subordinate, and preferably unemployed. (1981, p. 177)

This movement also obscured the woman independence, making black women reverted on the passive role and indulged them in the image of ―ideal woman‖—who should be passive and man-dependent. As described in both novels, the term ―housekeeper‖ is used, though in different manner. In The Color Purple, This movement also obscured the woman independence, making black women reverted on the passive role and indulged them in the image of ―ideal woman‖—who should be passive and man-dependent. As described in both novels, the term ―housekeeper‖ is used, though in different manner. In The Color Purple,

As viewed from the qualification of ―ideal woman‖, in The Color Purple Celie will be most fitted with all requirements. Within the black community in the early 20 th century, woman was seen as ideal woman when she was successful in taking care of the house and the children. When Mr. ____ ‘s sisters visit Celie, they also mention this by complimenting Celie ‘s job in the house. As stated by one of Mr. ___ ‘s sisters:

…. When a woman marry she spose to keep a decent house and a clean family.

… …. And you right about Celie, here. Good housekeeper, good with children, good cook. Brother couldn‘t have done better if he tried. (Walker, 1982, p. 27-28)

Thus, black women believe that the role of a good woman is to stay at home and to take care of the house. Mr. ____ ‘s sisters even compare Celie to his previous wife who is described as unable to take care of the house, and this makes her as a lame wife. Annie Julia is not a good woman and wife because she can not cook, as stated by one of Mr. ____ ‘s sisters, ―… and cook. She wouldn‘t cook. She act like she never seen a kitchen ‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 27). Cooking is undoubtedly one of the qualities a Thus, black women believe that the role of a good woman is to stay at home and to take care of the house. Mr. ____ ‘s sisters even compare Celie to his previous wife who is described as unable to take care of the house, and this makes her as a lame wife. Annie Julia is not a good woman and wife because she can not cook, as stated by one of Mr. ____ ‘s sisters, ―… and cook. She wouldn‘t cook. She act like she never seen a kitchen ‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 27). Cooking is undoubtedly one of the qualities a

the dead, one say, but the truth never can be ill. Annie Julia was a nasty ‗oman bout the house. … …. Why, wasn‘t nothing to come here in the winter time and all these

children have colds, they have flue, they have direar, they have newmonya, they have worms, they have the chill and fever. They hungry. They hair ai n‘t comb. They too nasty too touch. (Walker, 1982, p. 27)

Her disabilities of performing the supposed woman ‘s role place Annie Julia as a lame mother and a bad woman in an instant.

This perception is not only held by black women, black men also have this perception on their mind. As stated in: Mr. ____ say, Well, you know, my poor little ones sure could use a mother.

… She ugly. He say. But she ain ‘t no stranger to hard work. And she clean.

And God done fixed her. You can do everything just like want you and she ain ‘t gonna make you feed it or clothe it. … …. But she‘ll make the better wife. She ain‘t smart either, and I‘ll just be fair, you have to watch her or she ‘ll give away everything you own. But she can work like a man. (Walker, 1982, p. 15-16)

Above is the conversation between Mr. ____ and Celie ‘s Pa. When Mr. ___ asks to marry Nettie, Celie ‘s Pa offers Celie to Mr. ___ by pointing her ability of being a good wife and mother. Celie is a better wife option compared to her little sister, since she can do all household chores as well as field works. As stated by Bell Hooks, ―white observers were not accustomed to a patriarchal social order that demanded not only that women accept an inferior status, but they participate actively in the Above is the conversation between Mr. ____ and Celie ‘s Pa. When Mr. ___ asks to marry Nettie, Celie ‘s Pa offers Celie to Mr. ___ by pointing her ability of being a good wife and mother. Celie is a better wife option compared to her little sister, since she can do all household chores as well as field works. As stated by Bell Hooks, ―white observers were not accustomed to a patriarchal social order that demanded not only that women accept an inferior status, but they participate actively in the

As depicted in The Keepers of the House, Margaret has the idealized black woman image in most white literatures. First, Grau portrays her as fitting the image of the myth of mammy figure. Mammy stereotype was the most acceptable black woman image in white community. The reason why most of black women are portrayed as ―the Mammy‖ because the whites believe that they should behave like that, as stated by Collins in Woodard and Mastin in ―… the mammy image represents the normative yardstick used to evaluate all Black women behavior ‖ (2005, p. 271). Black women should have the role of housekeeper and white woman-like behavior. However, this image has its own effect on black woman. As a worker, they are considered as independent and non-feminine.

Barbara Christian portrays the mammy figure as, ―… black, fat with huge breasts, and head covered with a kerchief to hide her nappy hair, strong, kind, loyal, sexless, religious and superstitious‖ (1980, p. 11-12). It is obvious that Grau tries to make the image of Margaret as the idealized black woman image in the white society. She has big-built body, she is strong, and she ―works‖ (concealed on the status of the Howlands housekeeper) loyally and happily for the Howlands. It is also said that she has stronger attachments towards Abigail rather than her own children, even though Barbara Christian portrays the mammy figure as, ―… black, fat with huge breasts, and head covered with a kerchief to hide her nappy hair, strong, kind, loyal, sexless, religious and superstitious‖ (1980, p. 11-12). It is obvious that Grau tries to make the image of Margaret as the idealized black woman image in the white society. She has big-built body, she is strong, and she ―works‖ (concealed on the status of the Howlands housekeeper) loyally and happily for the Howlands. It is also said that she has stronger attachments towards Abigail rather than her own children, even though

…. I hadn‘t seen too much of my mother since we‘d moved back; even when she was living in the house with us, she was mostly lying down or reading in the summerhouse. It was Margaret who took care of us. And it was Margaret I missed when they left … (Grau, 1964, p. 171)

Abigail does not miss her mother when her mother died, instead she thinks of Margaret who practically does the job of taking care of her. Thus, when William died and Margaret moves to her own house, Abigail does not feel like visiting her estate, instead she feels at home when she visits Margaret. Similar to her grandfather, Abigail feels at ease by Margaret ‘s existence. This is as described in:

…. It was just in the air of that house, in the musky Negro-smelling air. I felt at home and comfortable. This was my mother, she had raised me, my grandmother too …. (Grau, 1964, p. 221)

Grau makes the point that the Mammy image attached on Margaret is the additional point for the image of how ideal Margaret is. Grau also justifies the stereotyped image of Mammy which is common in white literary works. Margaret is the perfect portrayal of the Mammy figure, seen through her loyalty and her love towards her white family.

In The Color Purple, Alice Walker also tries to portray the image of mammy through Sofia, who works for the whites as a compensation for her crime. Similar to

However, Walker wants to present the real account to what the black nanny feels about working to the whites, about the stereotyped image attached to them. Through Sofia, Walker wants to show that the Mammy stereotype is merely a myth.

When Sofia works as the nanny for the whites, Eleanor Jane (the white daughter she worked for) clearly believes that Sofia is the real embodiment of Mammy myth. She says that ―Sofia raise me, practically, say Miss Eleanor Jane. Don‘t know what we would have done without her‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 261). Like Abigail who regards Margaret as her own mother and grandmother, Eleanor Jane feels the same toward Sofia. She feels that Sofia is more mother-like than her real mother . Thus, Jane assumes that Sofia loves her, ―I feel like you the only person love me, say Miss Eleanor Jane. Mama only love Junior, she say ‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 264).

Eleanor Jane might learn from some fictions about Black Mammy figures which are caring and lovable; the ―elevated‖ image of black woman most acceptable in the eye of the whites, or so it appears often in white fictions. She believes that Sofia is similar to the image written in many fictions, all black women love white kids. Thus when Sofia says that she does not love Eleanor Jane ‘s son, Eleanor Jane thinks that it is uncommon for that to happen, Eleanor Jane is baffled and thinks that Sofia is behaving unnaturally: ―I just don‘t understand, say Miss Eleanor Jane. All the other colored women I know love children. The way you feel is something unnatural ‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 263). She naively believes in the account written by many white Eleanor Jane might learn from some fictions about Black Mammy figures which are caring and lovable; the ―elevated‖ image of black woman most acceptable in the eye of the whites, or so it appears often in white fictions. She believes that Sofia is similar to the image written in many fictions, all black women love white kids. Thus when Sofia says that she does not love Eleanor Jane ‘s son, Eleanor Jane thinks that it is uncommon for that to happen, Eleanor Jane is baffled and thinks that Sofia is behaving unnaturally: ―I just don‘t understand, say Miss Eleanor Jane. All the other colored women I know love children. The way you feel is something unnatural ‖ (Walker, 1982, p. 263). She naively believes in the account written by many white

I love children, say Sofia. But all the colored women that say they love yours is lying. They don‘t love Reynolds Stanley any more than I do. But if you so badly raise as to ast ‗em, what you expect them to say? Some colored people so scared of whitefolks they claim to love the cotton gin. (Walker, 1982, p. 264)

Walker does not support the mammy stereotype attached to black woman, instead she reveals the black nanny ‘s feeling through black woman‘s point of view. This is also stated by Pilgrim, in which he argues that black domestic workers ―performed many of the duties of the fictional mammies, but, unlike the caricature, they were dedicated to their own families, and often resentful of their lowly societal status ‖ (2000, para. 10).

In addition to confirming the Mammy figure through Margaret, Grau tries to portray Margaret as a figure closest to the portrayal of the early 20 th century ‘s true woman. Describing the early 20 th century ideal woman, Hagler makes a point that ideal woman at that time ―were expected to be a wife, mother, homemaker, cook, seamstress, and gardener ‖ (1980, p. 412). And that is the very description of Margaret ‘s role in the Howland Estate. When Margaret comes to the Howland estate, she is assigned the works around the house and she does it perfectly. She does all kinds of work from taking care of the house, tending the garden and sewing, she even knows some farm works such as fruit preserving, a skill should be owned by most Southern women until the end of the 19 th century. Although he already has a In addition to confirming the Mammy figure through Margaret, Grau tries to portray Margaret as a figure closest to the portrayal of the early 20 th century ‘s true woman. Describing the early 20 th century ideal woman, Hagler makes a point that ideal woman at that time ―were expected to be a wife, mother, homemaker, cook, seamstress, and gardener ‖ (1980, p. 412). And that is the very description of Margaret ‘s role in the Howland Estate. When Margaret comes to the Howland estate, she is assigned the works around the house and she does it perfectly. She does all kinds of work from taking care of the house, tending the garden and sewing, she even knows some farm works such as fruit preserving, a skill should be owned by most Southern women until the end of the 19 th century. Although he already has a

window had been pruned, and that somebody had been working in the herb garden his mother had put in years ago. …

When the garden was finished —ripped naked, forced back to its proper bound —and there was no more, Margaret went hunting for fruit to preserve. …

… She was sewing, William noticed, but not very well. … (Grau, 1964, p.

127-129)

Thus, unlike Walker who portrays black woman ‘s perception on ideal woman based on the influence of the Black Madonna Movement and specifically uses black woman ‘s point of view to reflect this thought, Grau surely prefers to create Margaret as a black woman who really fits the white ‘s image of their idealized woman, using the point of view from the whites to describe Margaret ‘s idealness. Seen through the eye of Abigail as a white woman, Grau appropriates the values of white woman in Margaret ‘s personalities and attitudes. The Keepers of the House is written through first point of view, Grau depicts Margaret not as a black servant in Howland estate, instead she often gives the reader the picture of white woman attached in Margaret through Abigail ‘s eyes.

As stated by Kaiser in ―often the ideal black woman depicted in post-bellum literature is a mulatto ‖ (1995, p. 98), the fact that Margaret as a mulatto strengthens her portrayal as an ideal woman. From the point of view of the white, it will be easier to portray Margaret as the ideal woman fitting the image of true womanhood; that her As stated by Kaiser in ―often the ideal black woman depicted in post-bellum literature is a mulatto ‖ (1995, p. 98), the fact that Margaret as a mulatto strengthens her portrayal as an ideal woman. From the point of view of the white, it will be easier to portray Margaret as the ideal woman fitting the image of true womanhood; that her

20 th century. In support towards this point, Grau also gives emphasis on how William means for Margaret, despite the shared idea that black woman only had relationship for fun. Margaret is placed almost in the position no black woman will be, her undying love towards William. As in The Color Purple, somehow the black women will manage even if they live without their husbands. As stated by Abigail after she visits Margaret, she sees how empty Margaret was after her grandfather ‘s death. Grau puts Margaret as a good black woman who is as virtuous as any other white woman who loves her husband forever, no thought of betraying him. It is unlikely to happen towards some white woman. This is yet another proof of how virtuous Margaret was.

… Who could tell her that my grandfather‘s dying had killed Margaret. That after his death, she found an earth of brass, and she hadn‘t been able to stand it …

… As I walked over to meet John at his office, I wondered: If he died,

what then? But I knew he wasn‘t all I had. …

I might miss him, but I wouldn‘t die of him. That was the difference. Neither Nina nor I was like Margaret. Neither of us was as good. (Grau, 1964, p. 237-238) I might miss him, but I wouldn‘t die of him. That was the difference. Neither Nina nor I was like Margaret. Neither of us was as good. (Grau, 1964, p. 237-238)

…. The whole room looked like a set, or a picture…. Then because he was still too tall, because she was sitting in the low rocker with swan-headed

legs, he knelt down and put his arms around her. She turned her head then, dropping it to his shoulder, pressing it into his neck. (Grau, 1964, p. 177)

Abigail describes their relationship as beautiful with expression ‗looked like a set, or

a picture ‘. Instead of passionate intercourse, Margaret and William share sweet relationship between two of them.