Analysis Of The Power And Space In The Third Life Of Grange Copeland

Viewed from the perspective of space and power theories, this thesis reveals themechanism of power which works on black women in Alice Walker’s first novel TheThird Life of Grange Copeland from three aspects: the spatial enclosure of womenunder power, the spatial resistance against power and women’s fates in spaces.In addition to the introduction and conclusion, this thesis is composed of threechapters. Chapter one explores the images of spatial enclosure under power. It revealsblack women are excluded from the white-dominated spaces while imprisoned withindisciplinary patriarchal spaces. With double pressures the black women have no waybut enclose themselves. Chapter two mainly illustrates black women’s spatialresistances against power. The three women characters challenge the disciplinarypower with various ways to deconstruct men’s spaces. This chapter reveals blackwomen’s desire and attempt to construct spaces of their own. Chapter three focuses onthe black women’s fates after their resistance. Analyzing the different results of theirspatial fights, this chapter brings to light Alice Walker’s concern of womanism whichshows a way to those black women who still fight with spatialized power. Throughthe analysis, this thesis reaches the conclusion that resistance is possible only if onecan fight in an equal way and develop herself fully.