The Interrogating of Maternal experience: A Study of Motherhood in Harriet Wilson’s Our Nig 1859

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the theme of motherhood in Harriet Wilson‘s novel “our Nig“through the lens of Frantz Fanon’s psychological theory by means its concepts of colonialism, racial identity and the effects of oppression. Accordingly, our objective is to analyze the complex portrayal of motherhood in the context of slavery and racism. That being the case, the theoretical framework will be grounded on the findings of the complexities surrounding the Hybridity critique vilifications and cultural hybridity within post colonial theory. It highlights the profound impact of slavery and radium of Black women’s experiences of motherhood in the 19th century Americas. In other words, this study provides a comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between cultural hybridity, motherhood, and the impact of slavery. By employing a Fanonian approach, it offers valuable insights into the complexities faced by Black women in their experiences of motherhood during the 19th century. The analysis of Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig" serves as a powerful example, highlighting the devaluation of black motherhood and the psychological toll it exacts on individuals within a society structured by racism and oppression.