Genre
Romance Novel
Setting and Context
The novel is written in the context of culture and ethical differences.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narration
Tone and Mood
Horrific, unhappy and resentful
Protagonist and Antagonist
The main protagonists are Mireille and Ousmane.
Major Conflict
The major conflict occurs when Mireille gets married to Ousmane despite her parent’s disapproval. After the marriage, Mireille realizes that the Senegalese culture permits a man to marry another wife when he gets bored with the current spouse.
Climax
The climax is attained when Mireille realizes that she cannot return to her previous life, and the only thing she can do is persevere for the sake of her child.
Foreshadowing
Mireille’s parents’ disapproval of her marriage to Ousmane foreshadowed a troubled marriage. After she gets married to Ousmane, her life becomes miserable.
Understatement
The Senegalese culture is understated at first by Mireille because she is blinded by love. The sad reality emerges after she gets married and learns that a Senegalese man can marry as many wives as wishes.
Allusions
The story alludes to cultural and ethical differences among different nationalities.
Imagery
The images of Mireille’s inability to cope with the new culture and environment makes readers visualize the difficulties she goes through.
Paradox
Romance is the main paradox in this novel. For instance, Mireille thinks that her romance with Ousmane will lead to a happy and blissful marriage. However, the reality is the opposite of the expectations.
Parallelism
Mireille's romance with Ousmane parallels cross-cultural marriages and culture shocks.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
