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It must have been a pathetic exchange. Our chief never learned English beyond an occasional odd phrase he picked up from Joseph, who pronounces “English” “Yanglush.”
In the sixty-fifth letter, Nettie shares
with Celie her sentiments about the Olinka villagers. After the
Olinka have this “pathetic exchange” with a white man from the English
rubber company, the Olinka conclude that it is a waste of breath
to argue with men who cannot or will not listen. The cultural barrier
between the Olinka and the English is so vast that both parties
readily give up, believing no communication is possible. Samuel
later mentions that the only way he and the other Americans could
remain in Africa is to join the
With this discussion of the barrier separating the Olinka from the English, Walker emphasizes that, though narrative can be a powerful force, some differences cannot be overcome. Cultural complexities and gulfs of foreignness sometimes render communication futile. This provides a sobering counterexample to Celie’s success at finding her voice and using it as the key to her discovery of self-worth. Walker admits that some cultural differences are so great that there is little hope for communication. Unfortunately, she suggests no solution to this problem.
