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There were many reasons for Ramatoulaye to leave her marriage. For starters, Modou could have chose any woman as a second wife, but he chose their daughter's best friend. Second, her twelve children were in total support of leaving him - headed by Daba, the best friend of Binetou, the woman Modou married. The third point was presented to Ramatoulaye by Daba : Mood disrespected both Ramatoulaye and Daba (Bâ 41). Daba was furious that her father would do this to her and to her mother. But Ramatoulaye did not break her marriage. Why? She had twelve children she needed to provide for. To leave her marriage would be to leave everything and start anew. That would be very difficult with that many children to look after. Another reason for staying was that she did not know if she would be able to find a new husband at her age and with her children. This was not as important of a factor in her decision, but it was still a factor nonetheless. In Senegalese culture, women should not be single for very long. They should marry young and stay married.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

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In this post I have included a video I found about human emotions. This video helped me analyze the emotions felt by the characters in "So Long a Letter."
Fear : a response to impending danger. I believe Ramatoulaye experienced fear when she thought about leaving her husband. She feared what would happen to her and her children. She feared that she would not be able to find a new husband. She was responding to the impending danger of having nothing to take care of her twelve children with.
Love : a feeling of profound oneness. I believe that this whole book deals with love. Ramatoulaye loves her children with her whole being - familial love. She also loves Modou in a romantic way. It is apparent that she also loves Aissatou, the friend she is writing this letter to, in a platonic way because of all the information she shares and how she addresses Aissatou.
Sadness : a feeling of loss and disadvantage. Ramatoulaye obviously feels sadness when her husband chooses to marry their daughter's best friend. She is saddened from the loss of her husband, but also from the loss of a father to their children.
Surprise : the showing up of an unexpected result. Ramatoulaye is very much surprised when she is informed that her husband has taken another wife.
Anger : evoked due to injustice conflict, humiliation, negligence, or betrayal. Ramatoulaye was absolutely angry with her husband. He betrayed her and he betrayed their daughter Daba, who was best friends with his new bride. With the mention of Data, she was furious with her father for what he did. There was the conflict of Modou preferring Binetou to Ramatoulaye, and of Modou choosing Daba's best friend of all people to become his new wife.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

Buzzle, director. A Complete List of Human Emotions and Their Real Meanings. Buzzle, 28 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfkMRxahV8.

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A Complete List of Human Emotions and Their Real Meanings

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One broader social issue Bâ tackles is the role of women in Senegal. Traditionally, women have been homemakers. They marry young, bear children, and take care of domestic responsibilities, such as cooking and cleaning (Culture of Senegal). They were meant to take care of their husbands and children. In "So Long a Letter," the women are getting educations and to possibly get a paying job. Strong women are generally confined, but Ramatoulaye is clearly a strong woman, and this whole book is describing instances which prove her to be strong.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

“Senegal.” Countries and Their Cultures, www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Senegal.html.

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Ramatoulaye's daughter becomes pregnant with her boyfriend. There are a few issues with this. First off, Aissatou (the pregnant daughter) was still in school. Naturally, Ramatoulaye wanted her daughter to continue on with her education. To have a baby meant dropping out of school and getting married, then stay at home to take care of the baby. Another issue with this was that a pregnancy meant that Aissatou and her boyfriend had had sex. All sexual relations outside of marriage are strictly forbidden in Islam (Fatawa). With this pregnancy, Aissatou would have to deal with judgement from her Islamic neighbors and would fear the judgement or punishment from God the Almighty (Fatawa). This was a very bold social issue for Bâ to address, especially since "So Long a Letter" was first published in Africa, where Islam is one of the most widely practiced religions. This photo is a very general map of African religions.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

“Fatawa - If a Child Is Conceived before Marriage, Is He or She Entitled to Share in Their Father's Inheritance When He Dies?” Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah, www.dar-alifta.org/Foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=8309.

“AFRICAN TRADING CULTURES. ESSENTIAL QUESTION What Does Africa Have to Offer in Terms of Trade? - Ppt Download.” SlidePlayer, slideplayer.com/slide/6922883/.

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I am proud of Ramatoulaye. She is a strong and inspiring woman. If I were her, I would have left Modou, but I also grew up in America in the 21st century. I love that she stood for what she believed in. She could not ignore the tenderness she felt towards Modou, even with all the hurt he caused her with his betrayal. She did not leave him, even though all of her children were pressuring her to. Another choice I respect and find inspiring is to support her daughter and her boyfriend when they become pregnant out of wedlock. In that culture, that must have been devastating news, but she chose her love for her daughter over the social norms and potential religious consequences. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Ramatoulaye and all of her choices.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

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“Senegal.” Countries and Their Cultures, www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Senegal.html.

“Fatawa - If a Child Is Conceived before Marriage, Is He or She Entitled to Share in Their Father's Inheritance When He Dies?” Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah, www.dar-alifta.org/Foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=8309.

Bâ, Mariama, and Modupé Bodé-Thomas. So Long a Letter. Waveland Press, 2012.

Buzzle, director. A Complete List of Human Emotions and Their Real Meanings. Buzzle, 28 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfkMRxahV8.

“AFRICAN TRADING CULTURES. ESSENTIAL QUESTION What Does Africa Have to Offer in Terms of Trade? - Ppt Download.” SlidePlayer, slideplayer.com/slide/6922883/.