These characters all live with Ramatoulaye at N'Diayene and all, in various ways, embody the narrative's themes of empowerment and identity development. Mame Sofi is a strong, opinionated middle-aged woman who already has a degree of confidence but who develops more as the strike and its circumstances call upon her to do so. Houdia M'Baye is worn out with childbirth, having given birth to nine.