In Charles R. Saunders's "Gimmile's Songs," who is Dossouye? What is her role? What is the central conflict that arises for her? How is it...

These sorts of assignments are not really that difficult, although students often overthink them. In this case, Dossouye is a female warrior, highly trained, who has apparently left the Abomean army and is traveling on her own. Her partner is her Gbo, a massive "war-bull" that responds to voice commands. There is not much information in this text about Dossouye's mission, or even her back story. She needs to cross the river and decides to...

These sorts of assignments are not really that difficult, although students often overthink them. In this case, Dossouye is a female warrior, highly trained, who has apparently left the Abomean army and is traveling on her own. Her partner is her Gbo, a massive "war-bull" that responds to voice commands. There is not much information in this text about Dossouye's mission, or even her back story. She needs to cross the river and decides to go for a swim, which is when all the trouble starts.

As far as conflict goes, there is plenty of action in the story, but there is not much rationale given for her hatred of the daju, other than they sought to take advantage of lone females in the wilderness. Perhaps that's the best way to think about conflict. There is also a sense, when Gimmile appears, that this is another male trying to get the best of Dossouye.

It's interesting that, for all her prowess, it is Gimmile that ultimately sacrifices himself to save her. I didn't find this resolution all that satisfying, I have to say -- Dossouye clearly can take care of herself. On the other hand, another way to think of Dossouye's character is to understand her as someone more "in tune" with others, more empathic. Her bond with Gbo is an example of this, but also the fact that she is the one Legba "has sent" to Gimmile suggests that the real conflict in the story may be between Gimmile and the gods that have cursed him; she herself somehow is the resolution he has so long awaited.

At any rate, Gimmile is a kind of ghost-lover for Dossouye (she "bears the seed of a ghost," he tells her). She is able to bring him to life through her passion; his love for her is a result of his possessing the "baraka" (the "mystic power" from the god Legba that made his songs "come true"). In a way, his love for Dossouye is one of his "songs" that comes true -- and that ultimately frees him of his curse. Whether we understand Gimmile as "real" in any way, Dossouye's adventure with him has a real effect on her.