Alice Dunbar-Nelson's short story collection, "The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories" (1899), is often overlooked.
The collection features heroines who embody the agency and autonomy characteristic of the "New Woman" figure.
These characters navigate societal limitations in late-19th-century Southern America.
Purpose of the Study:
To analyze the agency and autonomy of heroines in Alice Dunbar-Nelson's "The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories."
To explore how these characters utilize culturally significant objects and materials from New Orleans for self-care and empowerment.
To examine the parallels between Dunbar-Nelson's heroines and the "New Woman" literary movement.
Main Methods:
Close reading of selected stories: "The Goodness of St. Rocque," "Tony's Wife," and "Little Miss Sophie."
Analysis of the symbolic and practical use of objects such as voodoo charms, Catholic candles, tarot cards, sewing machines, and knitting needles.
Comparative literary analysis with "New Woman" fiction, focusing on themes of relationships and women's health.
Main Results:
Dunbar-Nelson's heroines derive power and self-care from culturally rich objects, challenging patriarchal and racist medical institutions.
These protagonists exert influence in romantic relationships and address health issues like malnutrition and domestic violence through alternative means.
The stories highlight resistance to white and male supremacist ideologies by valorizing New Orleans's cultural heritage.
Conclusions:
Alice Dunbar-Nelson's "The Goodness of St. Rocque" offers complex female characters who exercise agency through culturally imbued objects.
These heroines provide a counter-narrative to dominant medical and social structures, demonstrating resilience and self-determination.
The collection's "New Woman"-esque figures offer valuable insights into women's health, autonomy, and resistance in historical American literature.