Characters: The narrator and the title: Themes:
1. The Narrator(Islamic wife)= At the end of the story, she rejects the idea of marrying her late 1. Cultural and religious practices=
A round character (experiences both inner conflict husband’s brother. An Islamic wife, submits to her
and outer conflict) The rejection gives the narrator power and voice over a patriarchal cultural values
Emotionally strong and content with her life at the society. At the beginning she enjoys being
beginning the only wife ,but crisis erupts
After her husband’s rejection/betrayal of taking a Setting: when a second wife joins in the
second wife who is very younger, she puts on a brave marriage without any
face though she is disappointed The story takes place in Dakar, Senegal consultation
She deals with her rejection by refusing to be Most events take place in the narrator’s home where she stays with She hates the fact that she must
married again or submitting to the cultural practice her family. pretend to be happy and support
of being inherited by a husband’s brother. the young co-wife
Determined never to be bullied again, she boldly And her feelings are not
displays her independence from her in-laws. Mood: considered by her in-laws
2. Modou(Narrator’s husband)= 2. Broken relationships=
He is secretive an cunning man Sad, angry, Narrator’s relationship with her
He is an autocratic patriarch who rejects his wife for emotional husband Modou is shaken when
a younger girl who is his daughter’s classmate.
He is abusive, uses his money to lure Binetou/ the
Rejection (initially)
Happy, optimistic
he takes a second wife
Family expects het to accept the
poor girl into marrying him. (at the end) new living arrangements of being
3. Daba= left alone at times
She is supportive and caring young girl Daba and Binetou’s relationship
She is protective of her mother ends when Binetou becomes
4. Binetou= Daba’ step mom
She is a young girl Narrator’s relationship with her
She is a shy, naïve and poor girl Tone: in-laws is shaken when she
She is Daba’s close friend/classmate openlyrefuses Tamsir’s intention
1. A gloomy, downhearted and depressed tone= to marry her after Modou’s
She is untrustworthy, she betrays her friend Daba
At the beginning of the story passing
when does not disclose the name of her “suger
2. Enraged tone= 3. Betrayal=
daddy”
Narrator feels betrayed by her husband when she is rejected for a Modou betrays his wife and
5. Binetou’s mother=
younger wife daughter
She is Manipulative and desperate poor women
Daba is furious at her father Modou who took her close Takes a second wife without
She is a gold-digger who uses her daughter to
friend/classmate consulting his wife
improve her lifestyle.
3. Cheerful tone= Daba is betrayed by her close
6. Tamsir=
Binetou changes from being a shy girl after getting an old man who friend/classmate
He is supportive brother to Modou
bought her expensive clothes (and thinks she is in control of the 4. Gender Inequality=
He is a courageous man
situation) Modou dominates his marriage
He is an opportunist who tells the narrator that she is
his good luck charm Treats his wife as an object
He follows his heart and shares his intention to marry No respect to females
the narrator Exploits the young Binetou
1. The Narrator(Islamic wife)= At the end of the story, she rejects the idea of marrying her late 1. Cultural and religious practices=
A round character (experiences both inner conflict husband’s brother. An Islamic wife, submits to her
and outer conflict) The rejection gives the narrator power and voice over a patriarchal cultural values
Emotionally strong and content with her life at the society. At the beginning she enjoys being
beginning the only wife ,but crisis erupts
After her husband’s rejection/betrayal of taking a Setting: when a second wife joins in the
second wife who is very younger, she puts on a brave marriage without any
face though she is disappointed The story takes place in Dakar, Senegal consultation
She deals with her rejection by refusing to be Most events take place in the narrator’s home where she stays with She hates the fact that she must
married again or submitting to the cultural practice her family. pretend to be happy and support
of being inherited by a husband’s brother. the young co-wife
Determined never to be bullied again, she boldly And her feelings are not
displays her independence from her in-laws. Mood: considered by her in-laws
2. Modou(Narrator’s husband)= 2. Broken relationships=
He is secretive an cunning man Sad, angry, Narrator’s relationship with her
He is an autocratic patriarch who rejects his wife for emotional husband Modou is shaken when
a younger girl who is his daughter’s classmate.
He is abusive, uses his money to lure Binetou/ the
Rejection (initially)
Happy, optimistic
he takes a second wife
Family expects het to accept the
poor girl into marrying him. (at the end) new living arrangements of being
3. Daba= left alone at times
She is supportive and caring young girl Daba and Binetou’s relationship
She is protective of her mother ends when Binetou becomes
4. Binetou= Daba’ step mom
She is a young girl Narrator’s relationship with her
She is a shy, naïve and poor girl Tone: in-laws is shaken when she
She is Daba’s close friend/classmate openlyrefuses Tamsir’s intention
1. A gloomy, downhearted and depressed tone= to marry her after Modou’s
She is untrustworthy, she betrays her friend Daba
At the beginning of the story passing
when does not disclose the name of her “suger
2. Enraged tone= 3. Betrayal=
daddy”
Narrator feels betrayed by her husband when she is rejected for a Modou betrays his wife and
5. Binetou’s mother=
younger wife daughter
She is Manipulative and desperate poor women
Daba is furious at her father Modou who took her close Takes a second wife without
She is a gold-digger who uses her daughter to
friend/classmate consulting his wife
improve her lifestyle.
3. Cheerful tone= Daba is betrayed by her close
6. Tamsir=
Binetou changes from being a shy girl after getting an old man who friend/classmate
He is supportive brother to Modou
bought her expensive clothes (and thinks she is in control of the 4. Gender Inequality=
He is a courageous man
situation) Modou dominates his marriage
He is an opportunist who tells the narrator that she is
his good luck charm Treats his wife as an object
He follows his heart and shares his intention to marry No respect to females
the narrator Exploits the young Binetou
