Identity Through Independence in Giovanni's "Woman"


she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right  (18-23).


We begin to understand the perhaps the man cannot be pleased. Perhaps he refuses to accept his part of the responsibility. His lack of acceptance requires the woman to be the one in charge. She finally accepts her responsibility. This responsibility happens to be the key to understanding her own identity.

At the beginning of the poem, the narrator is completely dependent upon the man for her identity, but it the last stanza that focuses on her independence. Her acceptance of her independence becomes the most important part of the poem. Her own, unique identity is revealed when she realizes that she can be truly dependent only upon herself.

Works Cited

Giovanni, Nikki. "Woman." The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni. New York: William Marrow and Company, Inc, 1996. 219.


The copyright of the article Identity Through Independence in Giovanni's "Woman" in Modern American Poetry is owned by Karen Powers Liebhaber. Permission to republish Identity Through Independence in Giovanni's "Woman" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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