Symbolism In God's Bits Of Wood By Sembene Ousmane

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Malik Shadid April 1, 2014 English SL Symbolism of Women In the novel, God’s Bits of Wood, the author Sembene Ousmane utilizes specific events in the book to show its future significance. One key episode in the novel that shows a significance in the whole of the book is when the women started the fire. This did not only lead to future conflicts between the French, but it showed what power the women had. As a result of the strike and the famine that accompanied it, the women were forced to alter their role to provide food for their families. The goals of the men in women differed in that the men were fighting for equality and better pay, whereas the women were fighting a battle for their own and their children's survival. So despite the fact that the declaration of strike and refusal to work until their demands were met was the campaign of the men, it was the women who ultimately forced the Frenchmen to see their resolve and succumb to their demands. Because the men were no longer providing money to purchase food, the women became the providers of the family. As their situation worsened and starvation became imminent, the women resorted to breaking the law. On chapter nine is where the women show their first sign of a rebellion. It says, “Don’t worry, I have an idea. Horses are afraid of fire, aren’t they?” (112) This is when Ramatoulaye first caught an idea of how she might get back to the men. This was one significant moment where it showed how powerful the women actually are. “In less than a minute, the women had spread out through the cabins in the courtyard and into the neighborhood houses.” (113) All the women individually have unique characteristics, and when they are combined, they become something bigger. Whe... ... middle of paper ... ...galese concubines and didn’t give them rights. This made the Senegalese angry and as a result, they wanted to revolt more and have more strikes. The women’s actions that night gave off a fear in the French. The French feared that the strike was going to be a success. The “fire” is God’s Bits of Wood almost played a role of survival. It was used to hinder the horses and therefore anger the French White men. Their message intended had a huge effect on the French men. The French became infuriated with the actions of the women and In result, mal treatment was received to the Senegalese population. The colonizers have all the resources and are willing to excess them. This is where the women revealed the negative effect on the the fire. Everyone including the men and children were desperately searching to find food and water since everything has been cut off.

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