Copper Sun

by

Sharon Draper

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Copper Sun: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Polly and the slave girl enter the shack. It’s sparsely furnished with a table, a chair, a bed, and a mat. The slave girl sinks to the ground and begins to whisper, so Polly scolds her for using “jungle talk.” Polly has never been so close to a slave; she studies the girl closely. Suddenly, Polly realizes that she hasn’t eaten in hours and grabs her stomach. The slave girl does the same. Polly feels like she’ll never be able to civilize the slave girl and pounds on the mattress. With a sigh, she rubs her stomach and says, “Hungry.” The girl surprises Polly when she repeats the word. Polly says that this is Derbyshire Farms, a rice plantation. She asks the girl to repeat “plantation,” and then tells the girl that she’s a slave. Disturbingly, the girl seems to know exactly what the word means.
For Polly, it’s disconcerting to realize that Amari already knows some English. It means that Amari isn’t as unintelligent as Polly believes all Black people are, thereby forcing Polly to rethink her preconceived notions. When Polly notes that it’s disturbing that Amari understands what it means to be a slave, it’s an indicator that Polly is beginning to see Amari’s humanity. Before this, Polly thought that slavery was right and good. Now, though, she has to confront the fact that enslaved people aren’t as happy as she may have thought.
Themes
Slavery, Dehumanization, and Resistance Theme Icon
Horror vs. Beauty Theme Icon
Gender, Race, and Power Theme Icon
Quotes
Polly introduces herself and tells the slave girl that she’s Myna. The girl shakes her head and says she’s Amari. They argue for a moment, but Polly sighs and calls the girl Amari. Just then, the door bursts open, and a short, skinny Black woman bursts in. Despite her diminutive size, she seems like a giant. A little boy clings to her skirts. Polly introduces herself, and Amari as Myna, and the woman introduces herself as Teenie and her son as Tidbit. Polly calls her Miss Teenie, but Teenie warns her that they’ll get in trouble for that and leads the girls to the kitchen for food. When Amari says, “hungry,” Teenie is thrilled—but she warns Amari to play dumb for as long as she can.
Despite not believing that Black people should have any power, Polly still recognizes a powerful presence when she sees one. However powerful Teenie might seem to her, though, it’s unsafe for a slave like her to allow others to use honorifics like “Miss” for her—that would threaten Mr. Derby’s power. The language that slaves are forced to use in the colonies clearly doesn’t allow them to enjoy any sense of power or respect.
Themes
Memory and Storytelling Theme Icon
Gender, Race, and Power Theme Icon
Teenie puts steaming bowls in front of the girls. When Amari begins to eat with her hands, Polly realizes that she’ll have to teach table manners. Tidbit sits with a dog, Hushpuppy, under the table as Polly and Teenie discuss the dish. Polly shares that her mother wasn’t much of a cook, so she’s never had food like this before. After serving pie, Teenie says that Polly and Amari have a few days to learn their way around. It’ll be Polly’s job to teach Amari as many words as possible—Mr. Derby will want her to get up to speed soon. Clay, she spits, has a “thumpin’ gizzard for a heart.” Polly calls Teenie ma’am as she agrees with this—and though Teenie scolds her, she says that Polly’s mother raised her right. Polly says that both her parents are dead.
Teenie is probably delighted that even a white girl like Polly can so easily recognize that Clay is horrible and cruel. This helps Teenie and Polly begin to form a respectful relationship with each other—but again, their relationship begins based on a shared hatred of Clay, not on shared experiences or necessarily genuine interest in the other. Teenie also makes it clear that life won’t be easy on the plantation, especially for Amari. Because the Derbys think little of their slaves, they see no reason to give Amari time to grieve for what she’s lost.
Themes
Horror vs. Beauty Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Gender, Race, and Power Theme Icon
Teenie asks how they died and seems to truly want to know. Polly tells her family’s story: her father was born in England but eventually ran out of money. He came to the colonies as an indentured servant to get out of jail. He entered the service of Jeremy Carton, married Polly’s mother, and had Polly. He worked like a slave but couldn’t pay off his debts. Polly’s mother was an orphan who worked as a maid and a beggar. At this, Teenie suggests that there must not have been slaves, but Polly coldly says that most white people she knows are very poor. Softly, Teenie says that they still aren’t slaves. Polly says that her father kept getting in trouble and landing in jail. Finally, a few months ago, her parents both died of smallpox. Mr. Carton sold Polly’s indenture to Mr. Derby for some unknown reason.
It doesn’t take long for Polly and Teenie’s relationship to move forward and for Teenie to show genuine interest in Polly. Despite Teenie’s kindness for asking about Polly’s story, though, Polly still goes out of her way to use racist language and convey that she thinks poor white people have it just as bad as slaves do. Teenie, however, makes it clear this isn’t true—poor white people, even indentured servants, are not slaves. As uncomfortable as Clay makes Polly, it’s implied that Polly won’t ever have to put up with Clay raping her—an abuse reserved for Black slaves.
Themes
Slavery, Dehumanization, and Resistance Theme Icon
Memory and Storytelling Theme Icon
Gender, Race, and Power Theme Icon
Quotes
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Sounding emotional, Teenie suggests that Polly has hope; she can pay back her indenture and eventually, fit in. Polly says that she has to pay back 14 years and will be old—almost 30—by the time she’s free. Teenie quietly says that she’s about 30. Amari moves to Teenie and touches her arm, and a look of understanding passes between them. Amari says something in her own language, but Teenie leaps away and sends the girls to get some sleep. Amari curls up on the mat on the floor. A few hours later, Tidbit knocks on the door—he’s been sent to fetch Amari for Clay. Amari cries and begs not to go. Polly touches her arm but doesn’t know how to help.
Teenie again makes it clear that it’s impossible to say that poor white people and Black slaves suffer an equal amount. Even if Polly is old by the time she’s free, she’ll still have the opportunity to be free—something that Teenie, Amari, and Tidbit will probably never get. When Teenie leaps away from Amari after hearing Amari’s native language, it reinforces the idea that simply surviving and preserving one’s roots is a potentially dangerous act of resistance. Teenie seems afraid, suggesting that the slaves could be punished for using their native languages.
Themes
Memory and Storytelling Theme Icon
Gender, Race, and Power Theme Icon