"Possessing the Secret of Joy" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

Character Descriptions

Tashi (Evelyn Johnson)

Tashi is the protagonist of "Possessing the Secret of Joy." Originally from the fictional African country Olinka, she moves to America but is haunted by her past, specifically her experience with female genital mutilation (FGM).

Adam

Adam is Tashi’s African-American husband. He loves Tashi deeply but struggles to understand her pain and cultural background. His affair with Lisette adds complexity to their relationship.

Benny

Benny is Tashi and Adam’s son. He is born with a disability, a result of Tashi’s trauma. His innocence and suffering deeply affect Tashi.

Lisette

Lisette is Adam’s lover, a French woman who offers a contrasting perspective to Tashi. She is both a rival and a source of empathy.

M’Lissa

M’Lissa is the village circumciser, an elder who represents the entrenched traditions of Olinka. Her role is both villainous and tragic.

Olivia (Olinka)

Adam’s mother, Olivia, offers an outsider’s perspective on Olinka and Tashi’s struggles. She acts as a commentator throughout the narrative.

Dee (Wangero)

Dee is Tashi’s friend, a character from Alice Walker’s earlier novel "Everyday Use". She provides comfort and a sense of solidarity.

Miss Lora

Miss Lora is Tashi’s psychiatrist, helping her confront her trauma and guiding her toward healing.

Dura

Dura was Tashi’s childhood friend and another victim of circumcision. Her fate haunts Tashi.

Pierre

Pierre is Lisette’s son, representing innocence and the blending of cultural identities.

Character Traits

Character Background

Tashi (Evelyn Johnson)

Tashi was born in Olinka, a fictional African village. As a young girl, she undergoes female genital mutilation, a ritual that marks her but also traumatizes her. She later emigrates to the United States, marries Adam, and tries to assimilate but is haunted by her past. Her journey is shaped by cultural dislocation, trauma, and the search for identity.

Adam

Adam comes from a progressive African-American background. He meets Tashi during an anthropological trip to Africa. Adam’s struggle is one of empathy—he loves Tashi but cannot fully grasp the depth of her suffering.

Benny

Born to Tashi and Adam, Benny’s life is marked by his mother’s trauma. He suffers from developmental disabilities, a direct consequence of Tashi’s FGM. Benny represents the intergenerational impact of violence.

Lisette

A French woman, Lisette is Adam’s lover. She is open-minded and compassionate, often providing a sounding board for Adam. Her interactions with Tashi are fraught with tension but also empathy.

M’Lissa

M’Lissa is the traditional circumciser of Olinka. An elderly woman, she believes in the necessity and righteousness of her work. However, she is also a victim of her own circumstances, shaped by the same traditions she enforces.

Olivia (Olinka)

Olivia is Adam’s mother and a recurring Walker character. She observes Tashi’s struggles with a mixture of empathy and detachment. Olivia’s narrative frames the story, offering reflections on race, gender, and cultural difference.

Dee (Wangero)

Dee, known as Wangero, is a character from "Everyday Use" who appears as Tashi’s friend. She provides encouragement and a sense of continuity with Walker’s other works.

Miss Lora

Miss Lora is Tashi’s therapist. She represents the possibility of healing through understanding and compassion. Her methods are gentle but persistent.

Dura

Dura is Tashi’s childhood friend who also underwent FGM. She dies as a result, and her loss haunts Tashi throughout her life.

Pierre

Pierre is Lisette’s son, integrated into Adam’s life. He represents the blending of cultures and the complexities of family.

Character Arcs

Relationships

Tashi: In-Depth Character Analysis

Psychological Complexity

Tashi’s character is a study in trauma. Her decision to undergo FGM as a teenager is a central act of cultural allegiance, but it becomes the root of her lifelong pain. She is torn between her Olinkan heritage and her life in America. The psychological damage manifests in depression, dissociation, and ultimately violence. Therapy with Miss Lora helps Tashi begin to unravel her pain, but the scars are indelible.

Cultural Dislocation

Tashi’s life is marked by her struggle to reconcile two worlds. In Olinka, she is expected to conform to tradition; in America, she is “othered” and misunderstood. Adam, though loving, cannot bridge the cultural chasm. Tashi’s isolation is profound, and her search for belonging often leads to deeper alienation.

Agency and Resistance

Despite her suffering, Tashi is not a passive victim. Her ultimate act—killing M’Lissa—is both a crime and an act of resistance. She seeks justice for herself and for countless girls like Dura. While the act is tragic, it represents Tashi’s reclaiming of agency, a refusal to remain complicit in her own oppression.

Adam: In-Depth Character Analysis

Empathy and Limitations

Adam embodies good intentions hampered by cultural ignorance. He loves Tashi and tries to support her but cannot comprehend the depth of her trauma. His affair with Lisette is an escape, but it also reflects his emotional impotence.

Cultural Conflict

Adam’s character highlights the limits of cross-cultural understanding. He is a bridge between Olinka and America, but he’s often stuck in the middle, unable to fully belong to either world.

Fatherhood

Adam’s relationship with Benny is marked by helplessness. He loves his son but is powerless to protect him from the consequences of Tashi’s trauma. His grief is compounded by guilt.

Benny: In-Depth Character Analysis

Symbol of Innocence

Benny is perhaps the most innocent character in the novel. He bears the consequences of adult actions, specifically Tashi’s trauma and Adam’s emotional distance.

Impact of Trauma

His disabilities are a physical manifestation of generational pain. Through Benny, the novel explores the ripple effects of violence and the helplessness of children.

Lisette: In-Depth Character Analysis

Otherness and Empathy

Lisette, as a French woman, represents both the outsider and the empathetic observer. Her relationship with Adam is rooted in understanding, but she also empathizes with Tashi’s pain.

Complexity of Relationships

Lisette’s presence complicates the emotional landscape. She is not merely a rival but also a figure who seeks to understand Tashi, highlighting the complexity of love and loyalty.

M’Lissa: In-Depth Character Analysis

Embodiment of Tradition

M’Lissa is both a perpetrator and a victim. She has performed countless circumcisions, believing in their necessity. Her character forces readers to confront the complexities of cultural traditions.

Tragedy of the Perpetrator

While M’Lissa’s actions are horrifying, Walker gives her dimension. She is a product of her environment, carrying her own scars. Her death at Tashi’s hands is both an act of vengeance and a tragic end to a cycle of violence.

Olivia (Olinka): In-Depth Character Analysis

Narrator and Observer

Olivia provides a reflective, sometimes detached, lens through which we see Tashi’s struggles. Her narrative interludes add historical and cultural context.

Generational Perspective

As an older woman, Olivia offers wisdom and a sense of continuity. She reflects on the broader implications of Tashi’s choices and the persistence of harmful traditions.

Dee (Wangero): In-Depth Character Analysis

Continuity and Support

Dee bridges Alice Walker’s literary universe, linking "Possessing the Secret of Joy" to "Everyday Use." She provides Tashi with a sense of cultural continuity and support.

Miss Lora: In-Depth Character Analysis

Healer and Guide

Miss Lora represents the possibilities and limitations of healing. She guides Tashi through therapy, offering empathy and patience. However, even she cannot undo the past.

Dura: In-Depth Character Analysis

Symbol of Lost Innocence

Dura’s fate is a haunting reminder of the consequences of FGM. She serves as a ghostly presence, symbolizing what is lost—not just for Tashi but for all girls in similar circumstances.

Pierre: In-Depth Character Analysis

Innocence and Adaptation

Pierre represents the new generation, navigating the complexities of blended families and cultural identities. His character is less developed but serves to highlight the broader family dynamics.

Character Interactions and Their Significance

Tashi and Adam

Their marriage is a microcosm of cross-cultural tension. Love is real, but communication and understanding are lacking. Adam’s affair with Lisette is both a betrayal and a cry for connection.

Tashi and Benny

Tashi’s love for Benny is profound, but so is her guilt. She sees in him the consequences of her own suffering, deepening her resolve to confront M’Lissa.

Tashi and Lisette

Initially rivals, their relationship evolves into mutual empathy. Lisette’s ability to empathize with Tashi’s pain complicates the traditional “other woman” trope.

Tashi and M’Lissa

The central conflict of the novel lies between these two. M’Lissa is both Tashi’s tormentor and a symbol of cultural complicity. Their final confrontation is the climax of Tashi’s quest for agency.

Adam and Lisette

Their relationship is an escape from pain for Adam, but also a source of understanding. Lisette’s empathy allows Adam to process his own limitations.

Thematic Analysis Through Characters

Trauma and Recovery

Tashi’s journey is one of confronting, processing, and attempting to recover from trauma. Each character interacts with her pain differently, either as witness, perpetrator, or victim.

Culture and Identity

The clash between Olinkan and Western values is embodied in every relationship. Tashi is torn between loyalty to her heritage and the desire for self-determination.

Agency and Resistance

Tashi’s ultimate act of violence is a desperate assertion of agency. It is both a personal and political statement, reflecting the novel’s engagement with activism and resistance.

Character Evolution and Growth

Conclusion

"Possessing the Secret of Joy" uses its characters to explore themes of trauma, cultural conflict, and resistance. Tashi, as the center of the narrative, is a powerful depiction of suffering and survival. The supporting characters illuminate the complexities of love, tradition, and progress.

Through a nuanced portrayal of relationships and personal journeys, Alice Walker forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths and ask vital questions about agency, healing, and justice. Every character is a thread in a broader tapestry of cultural and personal struggle, making this novel a profound exploration of the human condition.