Imagery of Depression
The author has demonstrated the images of depression and restlessness through Mireille’s inability to cope up with her new environment. She marries an African man, but she could not bear the burden of African traditions. She married Ousmane against the will of her parents, so it was not possible for her to return to her previous life. She suffers from loneliness and falls prey to depression after knowing about the horrific elements of African culture and traditions. She even goes insane when she gets to know about Ousmane’s second marriage to an African girl. The author has depicted that in her state of extreme restlessness and depression, she kills her own child and attempts to kill her husband.
Images of Senegalese Culture
The imagery of Senegalese culture has been portrayed by the author throughout the book. The author has shown how the African rural culture takes away Mireille’s sanity. She undergoes extreme depression and becomes a murderer just because of the patriarchal culture and the traditions of polygamy in Senegalese. She fell in love with Ousmane and married him by going against her family but later own she realized the horrendous traditions of African culture. Men were allowed to get indulge in physical relationships if they would get bore with their wives. The society gave the right of treating women as dogs and the men possessed the authority of kicking them out of their homes, whenever they wanted to get rid of them. In Senegalese, men could marry several times. Ousmane’s second marriage which was in line with the tradition destroys Mireille’s life and through portraying their life, the author has presented how the lives of women were being ruined because of this culture.
Death Imagery
The images of death have been conveyed when Mireille’s ideals are shattered owing to the horrific picture of her married life. She never thought of getting hurt by the man whom she loved the most, but she was mentally tortured to the point that she committed suicide. There are images of Mireille committing infanticide because she did not want her child to live in those circumstances. She tries to kill her husband as well and after taking the life of her child she commits suicide. The book conveys the imagery of the death of Mireille along with the death of her aspirations, ideals and her love for Ousmane.
