Sofia is beaten and jailed after she refuses to work as a maid for the mayor’s wife and subsequently talks back to the mayor. Later, she is forced to work for the mayor’s wife as part of her release from prison.
In Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple,” Sofia is a strong-willed character who suffers greatly for standing up for herself in the early 20th century American South, where African Americans faced severe racial discrimination. Sofia marries Harpo, the son of the protagonist Celie’s abusive husband, Albert. Sofia’s assertive nature contrasts sharply with Celie’s submissive demeanor.
Sofia’s troubles begin in earnest when she encounters the mayor and his wife in town. The mayor’s wife, Miss Millie, asks Sofia if she would like to work for her as her maid. Sofia’s blunt refusal and her assertive response, “Hell no,” offend the mayor, who slaps her. Sofia retaliates, and this leads to her being brutally beaten by the police and subsequently arrested.
Sofia is sentenced to 12 years in prison but ends up serving only 8 years before being released into the custody of the mayor’s wife, effectively becoming an indentured servant. Her spirit is significantly broken by her time in prison, and the once fiercely independent Sofia becomes a shadow of her former self. It is only later, with the support of her family and friends, that Sofia begins to recover some of her old fire and independence. The transformation of Sofia’s character throughout the novel is a testament to her resilience and the strength of the human spirit in the face of injustice and adversity.