This is an
epistolary novel (written in letter form). It is a story about Ramatoulaye, a school teacher who writes a letter
to her friend Aissatou. In the letter, she describes the sufferings she has undergone in a largely patriarchal society. Ramatoulaye describes hoe her husband Modou decided to marry a second wife-Binteou-who was her daughter’s, Daaba’s, classmate. Ramatoulaye had twelve
children with Modou. Since they are Muslims, Modou’s second marriage is sanctioned by Islam. Modou doesn’t inform Ramatoulaye about his intentions to get married. He sends an Imam and his brother to break the news to Ramatoulaye after he is already married to Binteou. Gradually, he stops supporting his family and abandons them as he pays more attention to Binteou. Binteou’s parents agree to let her get married to an older man due to their self-interest as Modou promised them a trip to Mecca, a villa, monthly allowance among other things. Unfortunately, Modou dies soon after marrying Binteou. Several men approach the widowed Ramatoulaye with marriage proposals. Including Tamsir who is Modou’s brother and Daouda Dieng’ who is a politician and Ramtoulaye’s ex-lover but now married with children. She turns down all the proposals. Farmata, Ramatoulaye’s neighbor reproaches her for turning down suitors at her age. Daaba is impregnated by Ibrahima Sall who is a university student on scholarship who agrees to marry her. Aissatou’s husband, Mawdo, also decided to take another wife, young Nabou due to his mother’s pressure. Mawdo’s mother didn’t support his marriage to Aissatou as she was a blacksmith’s daughter. Aissatou divorces Mawdo and begins a new successful life enabling her to even help out Ramatoulaye financially.
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