Meridian By Alice Walker Essay
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In this compelling novel by Alice Walker, Meridian, the main character, grows up
through the eyes of the reader. The author shows us the emotional, physical, and
psychological stages of resistance that Meridian goes through during the height
of the civil rights movement. In fact, if one looks at the life of Alice Walker,
the author of the novel, similarities undeniably exist between the two women.
First let us examine the early signs of resistance in Meridian. One of the first
obvious examples of Meridian’s individuality is when she rejects religion at a
very young age despite her mother’s devout Christian beliefs. In school, she
is unable to finish a speech because she knows that there is no truth in the
words she speaks. “Meridian was trying to explain to her mother that for the
first time she really listened to what she was saying, knew she didn’t believe
it, and was so distracted by this revelation that she could not make the rest of
her speech.” (Walker, 121) This passage reveals the intellect that overpowers
her emotion developing in Meridian. Yet another example is how Meridian is able
to be a nonconformist when she gives up family life and motherhood when she has
the opportunity to attend college. Her feelings are well explained in this
passage. “When she gave him away she did so with a light heart. She did not
look back, believing she had saved a small person’s life.” (Walker, 90-91)
Although Meridian feels it will be best for the child as well as for herself,
this decision causes great disturbance within her because of her mother’s
disapproval. The reader sees Meridian enter college after she has made all of
these decisions, and she has also volunteered to work for voter registration, a
decision that foreshadows further resistance throughout the novel. When Meridian
enters college, she does so knowing that she will better herself. One of the
first things the reader notes is her determinism to give the wild child a chance
in society, and then, after the wild child’s tragic and sudden death, give her
a proper funeral. After being denied the opportunity by the authorities, the
reaction from Meridian and other students was devastating. “The students sang
through tears that slipped like melting pellets of sleet down their grieved and
angered cheeks: ‘We shall overcome…’” (Walker, 48) Meridian becomes
actively involved in the civil rights movement, although she must conceal this
from the...
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