g her children and breaking the bond between mother and child, she is in a sense denying herself and her natural inclination to care for her children. When Mavis and her husband are in bed together, we see Morrison compares her to a “Raggedy Ann doll,”(26) illustrating the fact that Mavis’ identity meant nothing to her husband. Ironically, it takes this initial shed of self for Mavis to be able to escape the bondage her husband has over her. An article by the Radicalesbians supports this fact by stating that the male culture’s definition of “woman” binds a woman to sexual and family functions (Radicalesbians). Unfortunately, Mavis’ husband didn’t allocate “family functions” as including the needs of his children coming before his own needs. Another indication of a lack of identity in this is Mavis’ mother’s ability to turn Mavis in when she runs away to her home. Her mother, a traditional woman, is unable to understand the idea of a woman running away from her family even if it is to save herself. Her informing Mavis’ husband of Mavis’ whereabouts is the result of her unwillingness to recognize the similarities between her own lack of identity and her daughter’s, another tendency of women stated in the article.It is through Mavis’ escape and pilgrimage that we identify her shedding society’s definition of what she should be. Each hitchhiker she picks up marks this transition. Each relationship she builds with the women, if only for a brief period of time, allows her to become stronger. The pinnacle of this transition occurs with the last passenger, Bennie. It is from her that Mavis not only learns how to survive, but also gains the will to fight. It is also from all of the women that Mavis draws strength from when her car is in a ditch. It is at this point that Mavis is reminded that the young ladies she picked up along the ...
