Preview of The Heart of a Woman Summary:

As a historical document, The Heart of a Woman touches on some of the most important social issues of the years in which it is set. Its thematic concerns, however, are equally varied. Though some, like the relationship between a mother and her son, are affected by the social climate in which events are set, all of Angelou's themes are universal ones, relating to interpersonal bonds and the individual's relationship to his or her cultural heritage.

The most obvious theme involves family ties. Both Angelou's relationship with her mother and her difficult role as a mother are explored throughout the pages of The Heart of a Woman. The responsibilities of motherhood are Angelou's chief concern, and they are addressed as social concerns as well as a separate thematic issue. Angelou considers the nature of motherhood when she removes it from the historical imperatives of her time. One such...