Two sisters, two perspectives. Mercy and Connie. Two Sisters written by Ama Ata Aidoo in 1940s Africa questions is it right to use manipulation for the sole reason of benefiting yourself? Powerful and successful men use their wealth to essentially receive what they want from women? Is this bringing down the generation of women as a whole? Connie the older sister and motherlike figure to Mercy certainly thinks so yet her husband opening admits jumping from mistresses even though he is not classified under “Big Men” in Africa. James, Connies husband asks, “Why shouldn’t she?”.Connie struggles against these morals even when she herself receives a gift from Mensar-Arthur. Mercy is on the other-hand in in a purist of happiness and Connie does not want her to be used. Moving from man to man after Mensar-Arthur is imprisoned? But are Mercy’s intentions true for her pursuit of happiness or is she just after material possessions. Waiting for a man to give her a house, car, money while she doesn’t invest in herself for an education or job. “Women allow men to behave the way they do instead of seizing some freedom themselves.” “Girls” are keeping all other women down. Women’s insecurities gives men the power. Both Connie and Mercy are at fault here. Connie for turning her cheek and asserting her own marriage and Mercy for her acquired taste of the unearned finer things. Who is more to blame?
4 thoughts on “Two Sisters By Ama Ata Aidoo”
Comments are closed.
I agree with what you have written. However I don’t think it’s about “blaming” someone. I believe it’s more of an issue of women playing too passive of a role in relationships. When they don’t act or confront the issue, they are allowing the other person to continue going about their unjust ways. Connie was obviously upset about her husband coming home at 2 am, but didn’t properly assert the issue and instead moved on to worry about her sister. This showed her husband that he can continue acting the way he does without any reprecautions. However, all the characters in the story partake in the problems and all share the guilt.
I agree with what you have written. I love it reading the story of two sisters; they both were so different. The classmates were saying in class that this story reflects on the world we living in. I don’t agree with that just because one girl decided not to work for her money that doesn’t mean she represents the whole country ad the other sister believes on hard work. There are a lot of girls that work very hard to achieve their dreams.
it is interesting how you mentioned the line “Women allow men to behave the way they do instead of seizing some freedom themselves.” on pg 997, Mercy said it was traditional women like Connie that is keeping all of the women down. i’m kind of confused, i don’t see how being a “gold digger” like mercy is bringing women’s status up as a whole. it is more like their way of accepting the fact that Rich and powerful men are allowed to have many wives and girl-friends.
I think you raised and mentioned a lot of great points. I definitely agree that Mercy’s approach to “success” is not exactly ethical since she profits from her relationships with powerful men rather than achieving it herself. Even until the very end when Mensar-Arthur was arrested and Mercy lost her source of luxuries, Mercy found a new replacement, Captain Ashey. However I think Connie is not exactly at fault based on the situation she was in. Many may call Connie a hypocrite since she condemns the idea of Mercy being a rich married man’s girlfriend yet allows her husband to cheat on her. However, Connie justifies this cheating by saying she loves James. I believe that if a reader were to be in Connie’s shoes, even if she were to assert herself and confront James about him cheating, she might feel threatened that James would leave her, which would be even worse and may explain her passiveness towards her husband cheating on her.