Summary

Chapter 15

Rama examines the differences between the second wives- young Nabou and Binetou. Young Nabou was raised by her aunt to live virtuously. She was taught to respect elders, to provide for orphans, to be generous, to have tact. She does not have a great deal of education but she works hard as a highly skilled midwife. She also grapples with those babies she cannot successfully bring into the world of the living. Young Nabou is a fighter, responsible and aware. She sees life’s hardships and has no interest in frivolities. She also sincerely loves her husband.

Binetou, an intelligent and educated girl, makes a substantial sacrifice in choosing marriage over her baccalaureate and her youth. She turns her hostility to her advantage, increasing demands on her husband constantly. Modou tries to keep up, dying his greying hair and creating celebrations as distractions, to...