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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Girl with the Louding Voice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Education, Empowerment, and Self-Worth
Gender Inequality and Solidarity
Wealth, Poverty, and Choice
Survival
Summary
Analysis
Despite the fact that Big Madam technically prevented Adunni from being assault, she leaves the room without checking to see if Adunni is okay. She seems more bothered by Big Daddy’s affair than by his attempted rape of Adunni.
Themes
The rain is starting to let up now. The air outside is still, but, in the distance, Adunni can make out the moan of a woman about to give birth. Adunni runs from her room to the main house. She finds Big Madam, her eyes red and swollen, sitting on the sofa. She doesn’t look up when Adunni enters. Carefully, Adunni tells Big Madam that she has a letter from Rebecca. Big Madam takes the letter, but Adunni thinks her eyes are too swollen to read the words.
The swollen eyes that prevent Big Madam from reading the letter symbolize her decision to let her own bitterness stand in the way of helping other women. In this case, Big Madam’s emotions about the affair with Caroline literally blind her to the troubling content of Rebecca’s letter.
Themes
Big Madam sets the letter aside. After a pause, she speaks to Adunni, lamenting that “this time, [Big Daddy] went too far.” Adunni goes to the kitchen and returns with a bowl of warm water and a cloth. She cleans the blood and tears from Big Madam’s face and holds her hands. At first Big Madam doesn’t want to accept Adunni’s kindness, but she eventually gives in, as though to “accept that even the strongest of people can suffer a weakness.” Adunni sings a song that Mama taught her as Big Madam falls asleep.
Big Madam’s comment about Big Daddy going “too far” is vague: it’s not clear whether she’s referring to Big Daddy’s attempted rape of their very young housemaid, or to Big Daddy’s affair with Caroline. The first situation positions Big Madam as Adunni’s advocate, whereas the second situation suggests that Big Madam’s agony is the result of Big Daddy’s betrayal and is therefore selfishly motivated. Regardless of Big Madam’s reasons for being so upset, and regardless of her cruelty toward Adunni, Adunni chooses to support and take care of her ailing madam. Tending to Big Madam with the cloth dipped in warm water allows Adunni to perform the acts of cleansing and healing she wasn’t able to give Ms. Tia and Khadija. When Big Madam receives Adunni’s care and “accept[s] that even the strongest of people can suffer a weakness,” there is a moment of vulnerability and connection between the two women, which is similar to their earlier exchange in the car driving back from Big Madam’s store. Big Madam finally allows Adunni to sing without beating her, which serves as further proof that Adunni has found her “louding voice.” Overall, this scene demonstrates Adunni’s strength, as well as her capacity for kindness and compassion in the face of hardship: she’s the one who just escaped an attempted rape, and yet she chooses to stay strong and comfort someone else who is suffering.
Themes
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