Autonomous But Not Alone By Karen Walker

Although Basil was raised in a loving and nurturing home, eventually he turned his back on his mother. Basil was Mattie’s life, when Basil was arrested for manslaughter Mattie offered her home as bond to post Basil’s’ bail. Basil was released from jail pending his upcoming trial. One night, he left his mother’s home and never returned. Mattie refused to accept Basil’s abandonment; she avoided areas of the house that indicated his absence. When a man knocked on the door to move possessions into his new home, Mattie is forced to face Basil’s abandonment. “Because of Basil’s actions, Mattie is forced to move to Brewster Place – once again seeking refuge from male oppression within a female community.” (Walker 63). Basil’s betrayal forced Mattie

The women of the neighborhood are quick to observe and judge the romantic relationship between Theresa and Lorraine. Karen Walker suggests in her article “Autonomous but not Alone” that the women feel threatened by Theresa and Lorraine’s relationship because they interpret it as “a judgement against them for being dependent on or controlled by men.” (Walker 66) “Brewster waited, cautiously prepared to claim them, because you never knew about young women, and obviously single like that.” (Naylor 129) They seemed like nice girls, but rumors began to circulate when no potential husbands were spotted around the women’s apartment. The women of the neighborhood analyzed the couple’s every move. Theresa remained unaffected and unaware of the gossip around here. On the other hand, Lorraine was self-conscious as she was previously fired from a job because of her relationship with Theresa. Lorraine relied on Theresa’s tenacity and self-confidence. Theresa had many friends of her own, while Lorraine depended on the support of the women in the community. “Lorraine wanted to be liked by the people around her. She couldn’t live the way Tee did, with her head stuck in a book all the time. Tee didn’t seem to need anyone. Lorraine often wondered if she even needed her. But if you kept to yourself all the time, people started to wonder, and then they talker. She couldn’t afford to have people talking about her.” (Naylor 142) At the beginning of their relationship, Lorraine found support and solace in Theresa. Theresa began to point out Lorraine’s insecurities and yelled slur words at Lorraine. Lorraine set out to prove to Theresa, and herself, that she was capable of standing firmly on her own two