The Women of Brewster Place Themes Source:

Dominant Themes Community Community Female Bonding Female Bonding Violence Against Women Violence Against Women Alienation and Loneliness Alienation and Loneliness African-American Heritage African-American Heritage Female Sexuality Female Sexuality

Community According to Webster, in The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, the word "community" means "the state of being held in common; common possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.“ According to Webster, in The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, the word "community" means "the state of being held in common; common possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.“ Naylor uses Brewster Place to provide one commonality among the women who live there. Naylor uses Brewster Place to provide one commonality among the women who live there.

The women all share the experience of living on the dead end street that the rest of the world has forgotten. The women all share the experience of living on the dead end street that the rest of the world has forgotten. It is on Brewster Place that the women encounter everyday problems, joys, and sorrows. It is on Brewster Place that the women encounter everyday problems, joys, and sorrows. Naylor maintains that community influences one's identity. Naylor maintains that community influences one's identity. While the women were not literally born within the community of Brewster Place, the community provides the backdrop for their lives. While the women were not literally born within the community of Brewster Place, the community provides the backdrop for their lives.

Female Bonding Naylor captures the strength of ties among women. Naylor captures the strength of ties among women. While these ties have always existed, the women's movement has brought them more recognition. While these ties have always existed, the women's movement has brought them more recognition. According to Annie Gottlieb in Women Together, a review of The Women of Brewster Place, "... all our lives those relationships had been the backdrop, while the sexy, angry fireworks with men were the show... the bonds between women are the abiding ones. Most men are incalculable hunters who come and go." According to Annie Gottlieb in Women Together, a review of The Women of Brewster Place, "... all our lives those relationships had been the backdrop, while the sexy, angry fireworks with men were the show... the bonds between women are the abiding ones. Most men are incalculable hunters who come and go."

Throughout The Women of Brewster Place, the women support one another, counteracting the violence of their fathers, boyfriends, husbands, and sons. Throughout The Women of Brewster Place, the women support one another, counteracting the violence of their fathers, boyfriends, husbands, and sons. For example, while Mattie Michael loses her home as a result of her son's irresponsibility, the strength she gains enables her to care for the women whom she has known either since childhood and early adulthood or through her connection to Brewster Place. For example, while Mattie Michael loses her home as a result of her son's irresponsibility, the strength she gains enables her to care for the women whom she has known either since childhood and early adulthood or through her connection to Brewster Place. She provides shelter and a sense of freedom to her old friend, Etta Mae; also, she comes to the aid of Ciel when Ciel loses her desire to live. She provides shelter and a sense of freedom to her old friend, Etta Mae; also, she comes to the aid of Ciel when Ciel loses her desire to live. It is the bond among the women that supports the continuity of life on Brewster Place. It is the bond among the women that supports the continuity of life on Brewster Place.

Violence Against Women The novel begins with a flashback to Mattie's life as a typical young woman. The novel begins with a flashback to Mattie's life as a typical young woman. But this ordinary life is brought to an abrupt halt by her father's brutal attack on her for refusing to divulge the name of her baby's father. But this ordinary life is brought to an abrupt halt by her father's brutal attack on her for refusing to divulge the name of her baby's father.

From that episode on, Naylor portrays men as people who take advantage of others. From that episode on, Naylor portrays men as people who take advantage of others. The men in the story exhibit cowardice, alcoholism, violence, laziness, and dishonesty. The men in the story exhibit cowardice, alcoholism, violence, laziness, and dishonesty. The final act of violence, the gang rape of Lorraine, underscores men's violent tendencies, emphasizing the differences between the sexes. The final act of violence, the gang rape of Lorraine, underscores men's violent tendencies, emphasizing the differences between the sexes.

Alienation & Loneliness Victims of ignorance, violence, and prejudice, all of the women in the novel are alienated from their families, other people, and God. Victims of ignorance, violence, and prejudice, all of the women in the novel are alienated from their families, other people, and God. For example, when Mattie leaves her home after her father beats her, she never again sees her parents. For example, when Mattie leaves her home after her father beats her, she never again sees her parents. Then her son, for whom she gave up her life, leaves without saying goodbye. Then her son, for whom she gave up her life, leaves without saying goodbye.

Throughout the story, Naylor creates situations that stress the loneliness of the characters. Throughout the story, Naylor creates situations that stress the loneliness of the characters. Especially poignant is Lorraine's relationship with Ben. Especially poignant is Lorraine's relationship with Ben. Having been rejected by people they love or want to love, Lorraine and Ben become friends. Having been rejected by people they love or want to love, Lorraine and Ben become friends. Lorraine's horrifying murder of Ben serves only to deepen the chasm of hopelessness felt at different times by all the characters in the story. Lorraine's horrifying murder of Ben serves only to deepen the chasm of hopelessness felt at different times by all the characters in the story.

African-American Heritage Naylor wants people to understand the richness of the black heritage. Naylor wants people to understand the richness of the black heritage. She uses the community of women she has created in The Women of Brewster Place to demonstrate the love, trust, and hope that have always been the strong spirit of African- American women. She uses the community of women she has created in The Women of Brewster Place to demonstrate the love, trust, and hope that have always been the strong spirit of African- American women.

Based on women Naylor has known in her life, the characters convincingly portray the struggle for survival that black women have shared throughout history. Based on women Naylor has known in her life, the characters convincingly portray the struggle for survival that black women have shared throughout history. Like those before them, the women who live on Brewster Place overcome their difficulties through the support and wisdom of friends who have experienced their struggles. Like those before them, the women who live on Brewster Place overcome their difficulties through the support and wisdom of friends who have experienced their struggles.

This bond is complex and lasting; for example, when Kiswana Browne and her mother specifically discuss their heritage, they find that while they may demonstrate their beliefs differently, they share the same pride in their race. This bond is complex and lasting; for example, when Kiswana Browne and her mother specifically discuss their heritage, they find that while they may demonstrate their beliefs differently, they share the same pride in their race. As she explains in an interview, Naylor staves in The Women of Brewster Place to "help us celebrate voraciously that which is ours." As she explains in an interview, Naylor staves in The Women of Brewster Place to "help us celebrate voraciously that which is ours."

Female Sexuality Naylor uses each woman's sexuality to help define her character. Naylor uses each woman's sexuality to help define her character. Mattie's entire life changes when she allows her desire to overcome her better judgement, resulting in pregnancy. Mattie's entire life changes when she allows her desire to overcome her better judgement, resulting in pregnancy. She spends her life loving and caring for her son and denies herself adult love. She spends her life loving and caring for her son and denies herself adult love. Etta Mae spends her life moving from one man to the next, searching for acceptance. Etta Mae spends her life moving from one man to the next, searching for acceptance. She believes she must have a man to be happy. She believes she must have a man to be happy.

Ciel keeps taking Eugene back, even though he is verbally abusive and threatens her with physical abuse. Ciel keeps taking Eugene back, even though he is verbally abusive and threatens her with physical abuse. She cannot admit that she craves his physical touch as a reminder of home. She cannot admit that she craves his physical touch as a reminder of home. Cora Lee does not necessarily like men, but she likes having sex and the babies that result. Cora Lee does not necessarily like men, but she likes having sex and the babies that result. Lorraine and Theresa love each other, and their homosexuality separates them from the other women. Lorraine and Theresa love each other, and their homosexuality separates them from the other women.