Shadows Uplifted

Running head : Shadows Uplifted

Iola Leroy , or Shadows Uplifted by Frances E .W . Harper

Black Feminist Thought by

. H . Collins

Book Review

2006

Abstract

The present consists of three parts . First , fictional analysis of the novel Iola Leroy , or Shadows Uplifted by Frances E .W . Harper (1893 was conducted to reveal the plot , the set of personages , the main ideas and concepts , as well as some useful metaphors and motives . Second , the contemporary feminist analysis of African-American cultural ancestry in regard to empowerment and social change was performed

on the book Black Feminist Thought by Patricia H . Collins (2000 . Five useful concepts were found in Collins ' text : womanhood /motherhood in relating to labor enslavement and family structures sexuality and love knowledge and nationality . Third , there was an attempt to apply the found concepts onto Harper 's text to test the persistence of those concepts throughout centuries . Literary analysis showed that both authors challenge social constriction in regard to race , freedom and empowerment

Iola Leroy , or Shadows Uplifted

The Plot

Iola , a fair-skinned beautiful girl , was born to the wealthy Creole planter Eugene Leroy and his mulatto slave Marie . Nevertheless , Iola her brother Harry , and her sister Gracie were raised as children from a privileged white family . Iola and Harry studied at the exclusive boarding schools in the North . Not long before the Civil War , Eugene and Marie went to the North to take part in Iola 's graduation ceremony Suddenly Eugene died of yellow fever . Alfred Lorraine , Eugene 's remote cousin , claimed both Marie and Iola as his slaves . Iola was forced to return to the South . Her little sister died . Harry , due to Iola 's timely intervention , escaped the fate of his mother and sister . When the Civil War commenced , he signed up with the Northern color regiments

Meanwhile , Iola was sold away to the new place . Her new master tried to victimize her . Fortunately , Iola was liberated by the Union Army . She became a nurse in the Northern regiment . There she met the white Dr Gresham , who gradually fell in love with her . He wanted to marry Iola but was shocked to learn that Iola was colored ' Iola did not want to betray her roots . Instead of marrying Dr . Gresham , she started leading a socially active life as the war was over

In the hospital Iola took care of Robert Johnson , a former slave who fought for liberation , when he had been wounded . They both concluded that Robert might be Iola 's uncle on mother 's side . In a while Iola rejoined with her family . Altogether with her uncle Robert she entered an African American socially active community in the North . Iola educated the freed blacks , worked as a nurse and contributed significantly to religious life of the local community . Finally , Iola married to the colored Dr . Latimer and continued to conduct her social activities even afterwards

Major Motives

The novel reveals several important issues that fit the 19th century ideological frame of abolitionism , citizenship , education...