A Woman

A Woman, by Sibilia Aleramo displays an author’s importance on the title of a novel. The novel is based on the author’s life and the many significant events that happened. At the young age of 15 she was raped and then coerced into marriage with the same man. She is disgruntled with her marriage and says, “When a woman who is still a virgin, lost in innocent dreams, first encounters her husband, she often finds him lacking in love and sexual feeling” (154).  Sibilia realizes that her relationship is not out of love but it is to be with her son, even though it is an abusive relationship with her husband. She continues to reflect on this relationship and the one with her son. “I asked myself who would give my son his first knowledge of sacrament of love. Would I ever be able to explain to him how he should treat women?” (155). Sibilia sees this problem as one that not only relates to her but to others in common. Sibilia titles this novel, A Woman, as the problems she faces are the problems that women face overall including rape and an abusive relationship. If the problems were solely about her life then the title would have been more specific to her rather than a general one about any women. By having a broad ranging title allows for readers to connect with Sibilia, thus placing an importance on the title of a novel.