A Letter For My Daughter

5 Pages 1292 Words

In the book “A letter for my daughter,” there are several characters that have a third critical eye, which means to be able to see beyond social and culture norms. These particular characters Zenzele, Linda, and Baba Zenzele are examples of having a third critical eye. Through these different characters are several examples of being able to see beyond culture and societal norms through their special views.
Zenzele, although a young character, is able to see beyond her culture norms to see how women are oppressed and how her land excludes her from her freedom. “I will never be bought! Mamma, how could you possibly accept some cattle and cash in exchange for my freedom?” (pg. 32) Zenzele makes this remark to her mother, as her mother explains to her how it is custom that the men give to the bride-to-be’s family money and cattle for the daughters hand in marriage. Zenzele is outraged by this and refuses to believe that she has to become part of this African culture. In spite of the fact that Zenzele is young at this point, she unknowingly points out that this is oppression to women, and how dare her mother go along with this. Her mother begins to defend the culture by explaining, “according to tradition, there is an elaborate ceremony that brings the two families together and the future of the groom pays tribute to his fiancee and her parents.” Brilliantly Zenzele replies to her, “Mamma, you are defending a custom that identifies women as property, transformed from father to husband. It is dreadful. I shall have none of it.” (pg. 32) She also stuns her mother when she remarks, “And what is woman’s worth after all?” (pg.34)Zenzele sees right through her taught cultural norms and sees that is this injustice to women.
Another example of Zenzele seeing beyond cultural norms is when Zenzele quizzes her mother more in-depth about marriage. “Why do women change their names
when they get married, Mama? Why should...