Themes of Race, Class, Domesticity and Sexual Identity in Gloria Naylor’s: The Women of Brewster Place

  • Dr. Subhra Rajput

Abstract

Gloria Naylor Won the Nation Book Award for her first fiction in 1983 for, The Women of Brewster Place. Her Subsequent novels include, Linden Hills, Mama Day, and Baileys Caf In addition to her novels, Naylor has written essays and screenplays, as well as the stage adaptation. The women of Brewster place chronicles the communal strength of seven black women living in decrepit rented houses on a walled-off street in an urban neighborhood. Mattie Michael, the matriarch of the group, is a source of comfort and strength for the other woman. Etta Mae Johnson is a free spirit who repeatedly gets involved with men who disappoint her. Kiswana Browne embraces racial pride and eventually accepts her mothers middle-class values. Lorraine and Theresa are lovers, when Lorraine is gang-raped, she is deeply troubled by the attack and murders Ben, who is one of her few supporters and the janitor of Brewster Place. Cora Lee loves her babies, while Ciel is on a path of self-destruction, having suffered a series of personal disasters

Published
2019-11-15
Section
Articles