The Influence of Female Authors on American Literature

Through her literary works, Maya Angelou inspired other African-American writings. Examples of inspired female writers are Gwendolyn Brooks and Paule Marshall. Danielle Steel is a prolific author and a best seller. She is regarded as a bestseller as she has sold over 650 million copies of her highly acclaimed novels. A common similarity between Maya Angelou and Danielle Steel’s writings, both novels and poems, is that they focused on real-life happenings and were based on their personal life experiences. Most of her writings were published during the era of racial discrimination and gender inequality. These incidences were common during the 20th century in the contemporary society. Different novels focused and reflected on certain issues. For instance, her first novel “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1970) reflects her childhood experiences whereas her last novel, “A Song Flung Up to Heaven” (2002) reveals her adulthood experiences after Dr.

Martin Luther King assassination. Later on, Maya Angelou depicts the joys experienced by black mothers, especially in the United States. Numerous instances of struggles have been exhibited throughout “Gather Together in My Name. ” During this struggles, Maya still believes to lead a promising life. For example, some chapters depict Maya as a prostitute who is forced to engage in such immoral practices in order to lead a promising life. The themes of human individuality has been illustrated throughout the efforts of Maya. She depicts the racial crisis that had become a menace in the United States. Maya Angelou’s poems mostly demanded for social justice. For example, she openly criticized the Vietnam War in “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie. ” Most of Maya Angelou’s poems revolved around the lives of the black people.

She perfectly portrayed this through her themes. These themes were influenced by Danielle Steel’s personal experience. An example of a fictional romance novel that depicts the ordeals of love and family is “The Promise” (1978). Due to a large following towards her novels, popular television movies on Danielle Steel were aimed. Through her poems, Danielle Steel educated the mass on substance abuse. For example, Danielle Steel’s poetry collection Love: “Poems” and “His Bright Light” were based on Nick Traina, her son (Peate, p. She perfectly depicts these real life happenings through use of various themes. Most of the themes evident in Danielle Steel’s writings or literature works were based on family and love, aspects that affected her social wellbeing (Hogan, Edward, et al). Her love life was faced with lots of difficulties.

It is due to her firsthand experience on love issues, Danielle Steel managed to write novels that were easily relatable by many. Most female authors focused on themes of love because many individuals are attracted to love matters. Use of literary devices in literary works are aimed at making the literary works more interesting and more captivating. Prolific authors are also best known for incorporating “hidden” themes that force readers to think. Danielle Steel’s personal experiences are among the contributing factors that introduced her into literature. Literature offered Danielle Steel a platform to express herself through stories and poems. For example, after divorcing and remarrying, Danielle Steel wrote her first fictional romance novel with the themes of family and love. Infobase Publishing, 2014. Hogan, Edward J. et al. Aspect Magazine vol.

issue 53, November-December, 1973.