Possessing the Secret of Joy

"Possessing the Secret of Joy" is a 1992 novel by Alice Walker.

Plot Summary

It tells the story of Tashi, a minor character in Walker's earlier novel "The Color Purple". She comes from an unnamed African nation where female genital mutilation is practiced. She agrees to have this operation performed on her because she is a woman torn between two cultures. She wants to honor her Olinkan roots. She sees several psychiatrists because of the trauma she has suffered before finding the strength to act.The novel explores what it means to have one's gender culturally defined and emphasizes that, according to Walker, "Torture is not culture."

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Characters

Tashi "Evelyn" Johnson- The main protagonist of the novel. She is haunted by her experiences as a child, especially the act of female circumcision that she underwent as a tradition of her village. The novel delves into her struggles recuperating emotionally and physically from the circumcision as she is enveloped in revelations about the underlying meaning of her culture.

Adam Johnson- He is Tashi's lovingly supportive husband. Adam watches Tashi's downward spiral into darkness with the miserable frustration of being incapable of helping her. His intensely powerful insecurity and fear causes him to indulge in a merely comforting affair with his long time friend, the French feminist, Lissete. As a result of their extramarital union, their son, Pierre is born. Adam is devastatingly heart broken as his affair pushes Tashi further away, and must face the consequences of his actions.

Benny Johnson- Tashi and Adam's adult son- Benny is born retarded due to his brain being damaged during his agonizing journey out of the womb. Benny's limited abilities make Tashi increasingly depressed because she blames her circumcised vagina as the reason for Benny's agonizing journey from her womb. Benny is very curious about the world and is willing to study about it in order to keep up conversations with his parents.