Realism Project- "And Ain‘t I a Woman?"

Sojourner Truth, in her speech "And Ain't I a Woman?" spoke out about how she felt regarding slavery, and, more importantly, women's rights. Sojourner, actually born with the name Isabella, was born into slavery and endured many hard times growing up until she escaped at the age of twenty nine ("Meet" 368). She later in her life became a famous orator, and she believed that she saw visions and that God spoke to her, therefore wanting to share her message as well as God's ("Meet" 368). She commonly spoke out about slavery, sharing personal stories and horrifying events as well as her views on women's rights ("Meet" 368).

"And Ain't I a Woman" is a powerful speech Truth gave in her later years (Truth 370). In it, she basically shut down anyone that looked down on females as opposed to men. She stated some of the hardships she had endured just as well as the men had; she related different situations and how females could handle them in the same manner that men could. Therefore, she felt that men should not be regarded as more powerful or more highly regarded; wasn't Jesus born from woman and God? There was no man involved (Truth 370).

Truth, throughout her speech, was definitely inspirational, and it made one realize how much she personally had really endured. She spoke of getting beaten while still a slave, and other events in her life that had not been taken easily (Truth 370). One could easily say that Sojourner Truth could be viewed as a hero. This is certainly a trait of Realism; I think that this speech could definitely be classified as Realism (Werlock). Traces of Naturalism are shown; Truth definitely gives a very clear image of how the lower class was treated back when she was still a slave, and Naturalism focuses a lot on lower class individuals and the everyday struggles they encounter and must overcome (Giles). Although Truth definitely does mention God and His power in her speech, the whole speech does not centrally locate around Him (Truth 370). This is common in Realism; people did not typically write much about God, but they did mention Him if they saw him as a part of their life (Diamond). Realism is also portrayed in the way that Truth casually but bluntly states facts; she does not try to exaggerate any details to make them seem more flabbergasting or impressive (Truth 370). She instead very simply says what she thinks to be true, and she uses a very honest and matter of fact tone (Truth 370). The information that she is sharing was most likely applicable to most middle class individuals such as herself, which is another trait of Realism (Diamond.) Since Truth had pulled herself through all of her hard times, escaping slavery and making a name for herself, she managed to move up as a middle class individual from a previously lower class individual ("Meet" 368). This, too, projects Naturalism, which is a subcategory of Realism. Altogether, Sojourner Truth gave a speech that was very noteworthy and respectable, and it showed her as a hero as she shared a few awful events that she had gone through (Truth 370). Instead of wallowing in her pain, however, she managed to prove a point. She shared that men really should not be regarded more highly than women; she went through the same difficulties they did, and she was just fine (Truth 370). By giving examples from her life and comparing them to the lives of others living in the same time period and general culture, Truth managed to give a very powerful speech that indeed portrayed Realism.

WORKS CITED

Giles, James R. "naturalism." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature, Revised Edition: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, Volume 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1255&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 9, 2011).

"Meet Sojourner Truth." American Literature. Comp. Jeffery D. Wilhelm. Columbus: McGraw Hill, 2009. 368. Print.

Truth, Sojourner. "And Ain't I a Woman?" American Literature. Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. Columbus: McGraw Hill, 2009. 370. Print.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "regionalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0581&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 13, 2011).