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How old is the Madea character, made famous by the many number of Tyler Perry plays and movies? She never seems to age; and for a senior citizen, she is most agile. However, at some point, as the family that she governs ages and the storylines mature, Madea must move on. When the family out grows her wisdom and develops wisdom of their own, Madea must step aside. When the story changes altogether and becomes less about the lessons of the past and become the lessons of the present and the future, Madea must die.
With humor and her own brand of wit, Madea boldly addresses every family issue that comes across her kitchen table. Her personal constitution guides her 'speak now, think later' approach that has attracted a fan base, consisting of some that haven't a personal concept of the symbolism that Madea embodies.
In my own family, Madea, or My Dear, was a term that my ancestors used to address the slave master's wife or the lady of the home. Madea then became a term of endearment for the senior most woman of the slave's family and/or community. Since many slaves were separated from their own mothers, in my family, Madea became everyone's mother, grandmother, advisor and prayer warrior. She was a midwife, the best cook and could run off a no good man, just by showing up. She was and is our strength. But she is gone now; and we are on our own.
Now back to fantasy: How will Tyler Perry's Madea's demise affect her family? What stories will they tell; and who will be the keeper of the wisdom? Maybe a wise old man can rise up and lead the family, now. Unfortunately, the older men seem less credible in the movies I've seen; and I'm not sure if the audience would buy that an old African American man would have anything important to say. (If African American men were more credible, I doubt, Mr. Perry would have made himself over into the woman that became Madea.)
To that end, we must note that for all of her humorous pontificating and sharp retorts, Madea must die and we must move on.
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