Roselily, Alice Walker: Summary, Analysis & Themes

Roselily, Alice Walker: Summary, Analysis & Themes

Alice Walker’s short story, ‘Roselily’ , is the opening tale of her collection In Love & Trouble: Stories of Black Women (1973). It narrates the emotional struggles of a young black woman on her wedding day, conflicted about the new life awaiting her as she prepares to leave her children and move north from her Mississippi home. Through the ceremony, Walker reveals the depths of Roselily’s thoughts, reflecting on themes of societal pressure, religious obligations, and gender roles that impact black women. Summary of ‘Roselily’ The Wedding and Structure of the Story The story follows Roselily, an African-American woman, as she marries a man from the northern states. Walker uses a unique narrative style by alternating between the preacher’s words (in italics) and Roselily’s inner thoughts, capturing her doubts and apprehensions about marriage. Her husband, who hails from the north and holds different religious beliefs, plans to move her to Chicago. Unlike her Christian family, he app…