Pages
126-150
Most of this section is taken from the narrative of the letters from Nettie to
Celie. In Liberia, where Nettie and company
are being missionaries, there are many strange customs which they must get used to.
The
tribal people, called the Olinka, are not used to black missionaries— all the
previous ones were white. They have a
natural disdain for them— for years missionaries have come and gone, trying to help
them and convert them but never getting much accomplished.
The
Olinka worship the roofleaf, a kind of plant which covers their huts. They don’t respect women and don’t
believe in their education. In this way,
Nettie and Celie are both striving for the same causes, just on different continents. Nettie attempts to advance women’s rights in
Africa by secretly teaching Olivia and her friend Tashi in the hut. Nettie explains to Tashi’s father, “The
world is changing. It is no longer a world
just for boys and men.”
The
Olinka don’t accept responsibility for selling their ancestors into slavery. In fact, they regard the missionaries with
resentment. Many of the men have several
wives. These women, as in Celie’s world,
are treated as second-class citizens, always at their husband’s beck and call.
The
main conflict in the Olinka village is the arrival of English road builders. Although at first the natives admire the builders,
they quickly change their tune when they realize the road is going through their village,
uprooting huts and churches. The Olinka are
further hurt when they realize they must move their village to make way for the rubber
tree industry which needs land to grow trees.
Some good news, however, is revealed to Nettie and Celie
when Samuel tells the story of how he adopted the children.
It soon becomes evident that the sisters’ “Pa” is not their
real father, but just a step-dad. This
encourages both Nettie and Celie, since no biological incest has occurred. |
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