Bertha Holly

Different from major characters of metaphor, Bertha’s metaphor is no less

shining than the two men because she best embodies Wilson’sconception ofAfrican American way ofliving.LikeLoomis’scharacterization,Wilson usesdeedsand words to characterize Bertha; while her positive words like encouraging Mattie to have “love and laughter,”render her a wise councilor like Bynum, her magnanimous deeds make her the most loving character in the play. Moreover, her African-Christian way of living reinforces the metaphorical characterization of Bynum.

2.3.1 The Positive Words

Although Bertha is a minor character, she is the spokeswoman for Wilson when she declares the elixir to suffering or traumatized African Americans—“loveand laughter”(87).AsWilson’sconstanttechniqueofcharacterization,an ordinary woman or an insignificant character like Bertha may also offer sagacity. Therefore, the significance of her positive words is twofold: the literal and the figurative.

Literally, Bertha is counseling Mattie on how to help Loomis. Like Bynum offering advices to the last souls (Richards 99), Bertha has comforted Mattie and told her not to feelsad overJeremy’sdesertion because“Jeremy ain’thad enough to him for [her]”(75).Afterobserving theparting scenebetween Loomisand Mattie,Bertha shares her experience with her and tells her what goes wrong with Loomis and how Mattie can do to help him, indirectly encouraging Mattie to go for this man she needs, thatis,“aman who’sgotsomeunderstanding and who willing to work with that understanding to cometo thebesthecan”(75). Bertha explicitly tells Mattie to simply give Loomis love and laughter.

Figuratively,Wilson,through thismotherly figure’smouth,teachesAfrican Americans or us how to face life, especially in hard times. Only through love and laughtercan onecopewith life.Berthafurtherexplains,“That’sallanybody needs.To havelovein onehand and laughterin theother”(87). All the characters in the play, except Bertha, are looking for somebody or something; in other words, they are looking for love. Love solidifies our existence and gives strength to our life. However, justlikewhatBerthahaspointed outto Mattie,“Butlifeain’tno happy-go-lucky whereeverything bejustlikeyou wantit!”(75). Therefore, we need laughter to help us and to heal us. Thus, Wilson enlightens us to have “Thekind oflaugh thatcomes from way deep inside”(87)through Bertha.

To just stand and laugh and let life flow right through you. Just laugh to letyourselfknow you’realive.(87)

Bertha looks at life from a very healthy perspective. It is this positive philosophy of life Wilson would liketo impartto hisspectatorsthrough Bertha’scharacterization.

Because of such positive attitudes, Bertha always looks at people from a more

considerateand hopefulperspective.Contrary to herhusband Seth’ssuspicion and cynicism, Bertha shows trust and confidence in Loomis. Several times when Seth mentions the bad thing Loomis seems likely to do, it is Bertha who speaks for Loomis with sense and confidence (33; 87). She utters positive words, and she certainly knows the power of positive words. Seth and from what she says to comfort Mattie, it is not hard to find that Bertha respects her husband and takes him into consideration all the time. Shanon asserts,

“Berthabestexemplifiesmaritalharmony”(141).Likeloving herchild,Berthahas high wisdom in taking care of her pampered husband.

Extending her motherly love, Bertha is the nurturer to all other people. She feeds the roomers dutifully; she indeed carries out her belief in love well. Whenever she appears she is always preparing or cleaning up breakfast or dinner. (Seven out of the nine scenes in the play, she is feeding them.) Most impressive of all, she excels in fried chicken (50).Sheoffershercareto herhusband’slong-term business friend, Selig, with biscuits and hospitality. When Seth is cold and rigid to Loomis and Zonia, she warms them up by “taking Zoniaunder her wing, directing Loomis to another boarding house”(Pereira 69).Sheis“thesymbolicmatriarch”(Shanon 141).Her magnanimous deeds reflect the characterization of love.

2.3.3 The African Christian Way of Living

Many critics have pointed out the amazing blend of African and Christian elementsin Bertha’sreligiousbeliefand way ofliving (Pereira71;Bogumi167;

Woolfe 88). Judged from her responsible attitude and regular church going habit, BerthaisadevoutChristian.However,shealso hasher“African”waysin blessing her house by sprinkling things around her house to bring blessings. Moreover, the laughterand thedancesheperformsarealso reminiscentof“alostAfrican culture” (Pereira 71). When she convinces Mattie how important laughter isto life,“Bertha moves about the kitchen as though blessing it and chasing away the huge sadness that seemsto envelop it”(87).Wilson describes“Itisa danceand demonstration ofher own magic, her own remedy that is centuries old and to which she is connected by the musclesofherheartand theblood’smemory”(87). Wilson particularly would like to invokefrom Bertha’sdancesomething thathasbeen thereforcenturies,which is whatPereiracallsasthe“folk dynamic in the historical development of

Afro-American Christianity”( ), Wilson believes that some deeply-rooted perceptions and culturalhabitshavebeen preserved in black’psyche.This“Africanness”as performed by Bertha’sdanceindicatesthesimultaneousblending featureofsuch black Christian way of living.