The Color Purple Contents
- The Color Purple: Social and political context
- The Color Purple: Religious and philosophical context
- The Color Purple: Literary context
- Textual help
- Letter 1
- Letter 2
- Letter 3
- Letter 4
- Letter 5
- Letter 6
- Letter 7
- Letter 8
- Letter 9
- Letter 10
- Letter 11
- Letter 12
- Letter 13
- Letter 14
- Letter 15
- Letter 16
- Letter 17
- Letter 18
- Letter 19
- Letter 20
- Letter 21
- Letter 22
- Letter 23
- Letter 24
- Letter 25
- Letter 26
- Letter 27
- Letter 28
- Letter 29
- Letter 30
- Letter 31
- Letter 32
- Letter 33
- Letter 34
- Letter 35
- Letter 36
- Letter 37
- Letter 38
- Letter 39
- Letter 40
- Letter 41
- Letter 42
- Letter 43
- Letter 44
- Letter 45
- Letter 46
- Letter 47
- Letter 48
- Letter 49
- Letter 50
- Letter 51
- Letter 52
- Letter 53
- Letter 54
- Letter 55
- Letter 56
- Letter 57
- Letter 58
- Letter 59
- Letter 60
- Letter 61
- Letter 62
- Letter 63
- Letter 64
- Letter 65
- Letter 66
- Letter 67
- Letter 68
- Letter 69
- Letter 70
- Letter 71
- Letter 72
- Letter 73
- Letter 74
- Letter 75
- Letter 76
- Letter 77
- Letter 78
- Letter 79
- Letter 80
- Letter 81
- Letter 82
- Letter 83
- Letter 84
- Letter 85
- Letter 86
- Letter 87
- Letter 88
- Letter 89
- Letter 90
Letter 38
Synopsis of Letter 38
Sofia is sentenced to twelve years in prison for her assault, with just two half-hour visits per month from friends and family. She has to work in the prison laundry and is kept in filthy conditions.
She models her behaviour on Celie’s submissive attitude, so is not badly treated in prison but regarded as a model prisoner. However, she dreams of murder all the time and her nature has changed considerably. Everyone who knows her band together to support Sofia as best they can.
Commentary on Letter 38
The appalling severity of Sofia’s punishment has reduced Sofia to a subservience which deeply distresses her friends. Sofia’s physical and mental condition are now in sharp contrast with her previous strength and independence. Once a meticulous housekeeper, she is now forced to live in harsh and filthy conditions. Like Celie in earlier times, or Squeak, she must now act submissively in order to survive.
Despite her long sentence, Sofia refuses to be broken, even though she bears the signs of trauma, as Celie did years ago when she was initially abused.
Investigating Letter 38
- How do you account for the change in Sophie’s personality when she is sentenced to twelve years in jail?
- In what ways do Sofia’s family and friends show solidarity towards her?
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