“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker was first published in 1973 in her collection titled “Revolutionary Petunias and Other Poems.” This powerful poem embodies the qualities of resilience, defiance, and self-affirmation. Through vivid imagery and unapologetic language, Walker urges readers to reject conformity and embrace their authentic selves. The poem celebrates individuality and the courage to defy societal expectations, encouraging readers to carve their own paths and find strength in their uniqueness. With its timeless message of empowerment, “Be Nobody’s Darling” continues to resonate with audiences, inspiring them to embrace their identities and stand tall in the face of adversity.

Text: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Be nobody’s darling;
Be an outcast.
Take the contradictions
Of your life
And wrap around
You like a shawl,
To parry stones
To keep you warm.
Watch the people succumb
To madness
With ample cheer;
Let them look askance at you
And you askance reply.
Be an outcast;
Be pleased to walk alone
(Uncool)
Or line the crowded
River beds
With other impetuous
Fools.

Make a merry gathering
On the bank
Where thousands perished
For brave hurt words
They said.

But be nobody’s darling;
Be an outcast.
Qualified to live
Among your dead.

Annotations: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Stanza	Lines	Annotation
1	1-2	The poem opens with a strong statement. The speaker encourages embracing being an outcast, independent from seeking approval (darling).
2	3-6	Life’s complexities (“contradictions”) are acknowledged. The speaker suggests using them as a source of strength (“shawl”) to deflect hardship (“stones”) and find comfort.
3	7-10	The speaker observes the majority (“people”) succumbing to societal pressures (“madness”) with a facade of happiness (“ample cheer”). They advocate for an independent response (“askance reply”) to societal judgment.
4	11-12	The concept of being an outcast is further explored. The speaker suggests finding satisfaction in solitude (“pleased to walk alone”) even if it’s considered unconventional (“uncool”).
5	13-16	This stanza introduces the idea of a community of outcasts. “Impetuous fools” could represent those who spoke their truth (“brave hurt words”) and faced persecution. “River beds” might symbolize a place where societal norms don’t hold sway.
6	17-19	The speaker encourages a celebration (“merry gathering”) of those who died fighting for their beliefs (“brave hurt words”). The location, “the bank” near the “river beds,” strengthens the connection to the community of outcasts.
7	20-22	The poem concludes by reiterating the core message. The speaker emphasizes the importance of embracing being an outcast (“But be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast”) as a way to live authentically (“Qualified to live Among your dead”). Being among the “dead” here could symbolize those who died for their beliefs, suggesting a community of kindred spirits.

Literary and Poetic Devices: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Literary Device	Example from the Poem	Description
Anaphora	“Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast” (repeated)	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines for emphasis.
Assonance	“Make a merry gathering On the bank” (line 17)	Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words for musicality (like “a” and “e”).
Consonance	“contradictions…wrap around…parry stones” (lines 3-5)	Repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words for musicality (like “r” and “p”).
Enjambment	“Watch the people succumb To madness” (lines 7-8)	Running on of a sentence or phrase without a pause at the end of a line for dramatic effect.
Hyperbole	“thousands perished” (line 18)	Exaggeration for emphasis.
Juxtaposition	“Let them look askance at you And you askance reply” (lines 9-10)	Placing contrasting ideas side-by-side to create tension or highlight differences.
Litotes	“ample cheer” (line 8)	Understatement, implying a stronger opposite (“hollow joy”).
Metaphor	“contradictions…like a shawl” (lines 3-4)	Comparing two things without using “like” or “as” to suggest a similarity.
Paradox	“Be pleased to walk alone (Uncool)” (lines 11-12)	A statement that seems contradictory but may hold some truth (finding satisfaction in solitude).
Personification	“Watch the people succumb” (line 7)	Giving human qualities to a non-human thing (people succumbing to madness).
Repetition	“Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast” (repeated)	Emphasis through repeating a phrase.
Rhetorical Question	(none directly)	A question not meant to be answered, but to make a point.
Simile	(none directly)	A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Symbolism	“stones…contradictions…shawl” (lines 3-5)	Objects representing something beyond their literal meaning (stones = hardship, contradictions = life’s complexities, shawl = protection).
Synecdoche	“dead” (line 19)	Using a part to represent the whole (“dead” for those who died speaking their truth).

Themes: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

1. Individuality vs. Conformity (Lines 1-12): The poem champions individuality over societal pressure to conform. The opening lines, “Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast,” urge the reader to reject seeking approval and embrace being different. The speaker suggests life’s complexities (“contradictions”) are something to be owned, not hidden, using the metaphor of a shawl for protection and comfort. Finding satisfaction in solitude is presented as positive, even if considered “uncool” by the majority.
2. Strength in Facing Challenges (Lines 3-6): The poem acknowledges the difficulties of being an outsider. Life throws challenges (“stones”), but the speaker encourages using your unique experiences (“contradictions”) as a source of strength. The image of wrapping the contradictions “like a shawl” suggests using them for protection and warmth. This implies that embracing your individuality can be empowering.
3. Critical Observation of Society (Lines 7-10, 17-18): The poem critiques those who blindly follow social norms. The speaker observes the “people succumb / To madness / With ample cheer,” suggesting a facade of happiness within conformity. The “madness” could represent societal pressures or a loss of individuality. The “thousands perished / For brave hurt words / They said” highlights the potential consequences of speaking one’s truth in a non-conforming way.
4. Finding Community Among Outcasts (Lines 13-19): The poem offers a sense of belonging for those who choose to be different. “Impetuous fools” who spoke their truth (“brave hurt words”) could represent a community of outcasts. The “river beds” might symbolize a space outside societal boundaries where these individuals gather. The final line, “live Among your dead,” suggests a connection to those who died for their beliefs, creating a sense of belonging and purpose.

Literary Theories and “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Literary Theory	Explanation	Connection to the Poem
Feminism	Examines the social, political, and economic inequalities faced by women.	The poem can be seen as a call for women to embrace their individuality and challenge societal expectations that may limit them. The rejection of being “nobody’s darling” could be a push against traditional female roles that emphasize dependence on men.
Marxism	Analyzes the relationship between social classes and the struggle for power.	While not explicitly Marxist, the poem touches on class struggles. The “people” succumbing to “madness” might represent the working class pressured by societal norms. “Impetuous fools” and those “among your dead” could be those who challenged the status quo.
Reader-Response Theory	Focuses on how the reader’s background and experiences influence their interpretation of a text.	The poem’s message of embracing individuality can resonate differently depending on the reader’s experiences with societal pressures or feelings of being an outsider. Finding value in “brave hurt words” might hold more weight for someone who has experienced silencing or oppression.
New Historicism	Examines literature within the social, cultural, and political context of its creation.	The poem was written in the 1970s during the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of feminism. The call to be an outcast and challenge societal expectations aligns with the themes of social justice and individual empowerment that were prominent during this era.

Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements: “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Topic	Question	Thesis Statement
Individuality vs. Conformity	How does the poem challenge societal pressures to conform?	“Be Nobody’s Darling” advocates for embracing individuality and authenticity, even if it means being ostracized, as conformity leads to a shallow existence.
Strength in Facing Challenges	How does the poem depict the power of facing challenges as an outsider?	The poem portrays facing challenges as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. By using life’s difficulties (“contradictions”) as a source of strength (“shawl”), one can find empowerment and forge their own path.
Finding Community	Does the poem offer a sense of belonging for those who choose to be different?	“Be Nobody’s Darling” suggests that while being an outcast can be isolating, it can also lead to finding a community of like-minded individuals who value truth and individuality over societal acceptance.
Social Critique	How does the poem critique societal norms?	The poem criticizes the pressure to conform and the dangers of blindly following the majority (“ample cheer”). The speaker observes a “madness” within conformity, implying a loss of individuality and a disregard for truth (“brave hurt words”).
Feminist Lens	How can a feminist perspective inform our understanding of the poem?	Viewed through a feminist lens, the poem’s message of rejecting being “nobody’s darling” can be seen as a call for women to defy traditional gender roles and societal expectations that limit their independence and self-worth.

Short Questions/Answers about “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Literary Works Similar to “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

1. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (1804) by William Wordsworth: Similar to Walker, this poem finds beauty and solace in solitude, celebrating individuality.
2. “Song of Myself” (1855) by Walt Whitman: This American Transcendentalist poem echoes Walker’s themes of self-acceptance, embracing individuality, and valuing each person.
3. “No One Belongs Here More Than You” (c. 1862) by Emily Dickinson: Dickinson’s poem, like Walker’s, explores finding connection with those who share experiences of exclusion.
4. “The Lottery” (1948) by Shirley Jackson: Jackson’s chilling story, a stark contrast in tone, highlights the dangers of blind conformity, similar to Walker’s critique of societal pressure.
5. “The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Gilman’s story, like Walker’s, critiques societal expectations and emphasizes the importance of self-determination and challenging norms.

Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Books:

• Walker, Alice. In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983. This collection of essays by Walker herself delves into themes of race, gender, and identity, providing valuable context for interpreting her poetry, particularly through a womanist lens.
• Johnson, Barbara. The Feminist Difference: Literature, Psychoanalysis, History. Columbia UP, 2018. This critical work explores feminist literary theory, offering frameworks for analyzing Walker’s poem through a feminist lens.

Articles:

• McDowell, Deborah E. “New Directions for Black Feminist Criticism.” Black American Literature Forum, vol. 14, no. 4, 1980, pp. 153–59. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2904407. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
• DAVIS, THADIOUS. “Poetry as Preface to Fiction: Alice Walker’s Recurrent Apprenticeship.” The Mississippi Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 2, 1991, pp. 133–42. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26475304. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
• Hucks, Tracey Elaine. “Wombu: An Intellectual Exercise in Womanist and Buddhist Reading.” Buddhist-Christian Studies, vol. 36, 2016, pp. 43–47. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24801544. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Websites:

• “Alice Walker.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org. This website offers a biography of Walker, critical essays, and the full text of “Be Nobody’s Darling.”
• “Alice Walker: In Her Own Words.” Academy of American Poets, poets.org. This interview with Walker provides firsthand insights into her creative process and influences.

Quotations and Context from “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker

Quote	Context	Literary Theory	Theorization
“Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast.” (Lines 1-2)	The poem opens with a strong statement challenging societal pressures to conform and seek approval.	Individualism vs. Conformity	This quote aligns with feminist and Black literary theories that emphasize the importance of self-definition and challenging societal expectations, particularly for women and marginalized groups.
“Take the contradictions / Of your life / And wrap around / You like a shawl” (Lines 3-4)	The speaker acknowledges the complexities of life (“contradictions”) but suggests using them as a source of strength (“shawl”) for protection and comfort.	Strength in Facing Challenges	This quote connects with theories of resilience and overcoming adversity. It suggests our experiences, even negative ones, can shape us into stronger individuals.
“Watch the people succumb / To madness / With ample cheer” (Lines 7-8)	The speaker observes the majority (“people”) conforming to social norms (“ample cheer”), implying a facade of happiness.	Social Critique	This quote aligns with Marxist and critical race theories that critique societal power structures and the pressure to conform. It suggests conformity can lead to a loss of individuality and a disregard for truth.
“Line the crowded / River beds / With other impetuous / Fools” (Lines 13-14)	Here, the speaker suggests finding community with others who have spoken their truth (“brave hurt words”) and faced persecution (“fools”).	Finding Community Among Outcasts	This quote connects with theories of community building and solidarity among marginalized groups. It suggests shared experiences can foster a sense of belonging outside mainstream society.
“But be nobody’s darling; / Be an outcast. / Qualified to live / Among your dead.” (Lines 20-22)	The poem ends by reiterating the importance of embracing individuality (“outcast”). Living “among your dead” could symbolize being with those who died for their beliefs, creating a sense of purpose and belonging.	Death and Belonging	This quote can be theorized through existentialist and Black feminist lenses. It suggests embracing authenticity, even in the face of potential exclusion, and finding connection with those who share your values.