Mabira Forest Rubber

Mabira Forest Rubber

Financial Times

1917-07-31

In the novel, The Color Purple, rubber plantations are a main concern for those living in Africa. The rubber plantations were a way for big businesses to make a lot of money, but this was at the expense of the villagers in Africa. In the novel, Nettie goes to Africa to do missionary work. This work is cut short, however, because a rubber plantation is being built right in the middle of the village, “The builders wanted the village site as headquarters for the rubber plantation. It is the only spot for miles that has a steady supply of fresh water” (Walker 226). The rubber plantation directly affects the lives of the Olinka. Now the villagers must move away from their village and struggle to rebuild. The article, “Mabira Forest Rubber,” also looks at the rubber plantations, but from the point of view of the business owner. The article states that rubber production was originally successful. This supports the fact that a rubber plantation was built in the tribe. Rubber plantations were becoming popular in Africa because of their money making potential. On the other hand, the article continues to discuss the fact that the rubber plantation mentioned is slipping in economic gain. This is important to note because the plantation destroyed villages when it was built, only to become a failure later on. This relates to the novel in that the planation built in the novel could also fail and the destruction of the Olinka tribe would be for nothing. The rubber plantations appear to be a force that cannot be stopped. The African villagers cannot standup for themselves and fight the rubber plantations. This is symbolic of how Celie feels everyday. She feels that there is an overpowering force so strong that she cannot fight it. The plantation overpowering the villagers’ display how Celie feels overpowered by the men in her life.

Kirsten Van Nortwick

"Mabira Forest Rubber." Financial Times [London, England] 31 July 1917: 2. The Financial Times Historical Archive, 1888-2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

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