Oksanen, Sofi, Purge, Finland: WSOY 2008.

Sofi Oksanen (1977, Jyväskylä) is known for being the most successful and
internationally recognized contemporary Finnish writer. This is evident when you
consider the 20 literary awards she has received, including the Literary Award of the
Finnish and Nordic Councils. Her works have been translated into more than fifty
languages, allowing her to sell millions of copies worldwide.
Her literary career began between the University of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, and as for
her playwriting, it started at the Helsinki Theatre Academy. Throughout her career, you
can see her influences, such as Marguerite Duras or Aino Kallas.

In this specific novel, as well as in most of her works, Oksanen addresses topics such as
the contemporary history of Estonia, the Soviet Union, or Finland. In addition, she
explores themes like femininity, war, and violence, all to depict human life choices and
issues such as betrayal, inequalities, and social problems. The female protagonists in her
works make them a deeply personal experience.

The novel's plot unfolds in two different time periods, one set in the 1990s; and the
other in the 1940s, during the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Both protagonists (Aliide
and Zara) share family ties and conceal secrets related to the oppression and violence of
that historical period. Through the work, the author explores how the past exerts
influence on the present and how people strive to survive in extremely challenging
circumstances. The book examines themes such as abuse, betrayal, loyalty, and the
struggle for identity in a context of political and social changes.

In relation to the situation of the women’s, she exposes and claims the hard situation for
Zara as She is suffering from abuse from her husband (human trafficker). In addition,
Sofía exposes the role of the women in these cases, so “you cover your bruises and keep
quiet, you don't show them around, that's the way it's always been.” The lines in which
the author reveals the abuse that Zara suffers from her husband are quite harsh, showing
the complex and painful situation the protagonist is going through without any kind of
restraint or embellishment in the description. In my opinion, this is a detail that
introduces the reader in a more experimental way, as describing the harsh reality makes
it easier to appeal to the emotions of the audience.

One of the details that has impressed me the most about the book and I would like to
emphasize is the excellence with which Sofia portrays the resilience of the characters in
the face of abuse. Both protagonists have had to overcome different forms of abuse;
Aliide had to confront the abuse of the Soviet system and domestic violence;
meanwhile, Zara suffered both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of human
traffickers. The author exceptionally depicts two powerful and brave women who,
despite being victims of various episodes of abuse, manage to find the strength to fight
against adversity and survive. This can be seen as a demonstration of the human
capacity, a quality that enables overcoming the problems that arise; the importance of
confronting the past and its adversities to heal, progress, and survive.

Despite overcoming the adversities and traumas of the past to move forward, it is
evident throughout the reading that fear and distrust do not disappear, and not only that,
but they also condition the choices of the protagonists. This could be due to the desire
and need for survival.

(Oksanen 2008, 14)

As shown in the lines of the book, this fear often stems from past experiences that, even
though they have been left behind, have left a difficult-to-erase mark. Many times, this
fear and distrust transform into lies in an attempt to make a good impression and gain
the trust of the other person; as was the case with Zara when she was found by Aliide,
who felt the need to lie about her past life to earn the elderly woman's trust and, thus,
escape from her husband as soon as possible. On the part of the elderly woman, fear is
evident in her distrust of poor Zara, even going so far as to test whether the young
woman was capable of stealing from her.

Not only is there a distrust stemming from fear present, but also the fear of betrayal is
depicted, as mentioned earlier, the characters at times distrust others, but they also show
a fear of betrayal and loss because both protagonists have experienced significant losses
throughout their lives. This constant concern about loss is a theme that, once again,
effectively connects with the reader since, in a way, everyone has experienced loss in
one form or another. The fear of political pressure is also clearly represented through the
political repression imposed by the Russian government in Estonia, which influences
the protagonists in the form of fear of the consequences that would come from
expressing their disagreement with the government or from hiding a political exile in
their homes.

The history is treated throughout the plot through various perspectives over different
time periods, allowing the author to make temporal jumps that connect the past and the
present and how this intertwines the lives of the protagonists. The history is conveyed
through family history and historical events, where the focus is on how Aliide's life was
affected by the unfolding of historical events such as the Soviet occupation of Estonia
and World War II. Through family history, Sofi uses it to illustrate the impact of politics
and war on people's lives. Despite addressing themes of the past, she also sheds light on
contemporary issues such as human trafficking, immigration, and even gender-based
violence, as previously mentioned. The intertwining of these themes with history adds
exceptional depth to the narrative of the work. One can see how the author aims to
expose the lasting impact of history on people's lives.

At times, fear can transform into uncertainty and a desire for survival. The uncertainty
and tension of not knowing what will happen can also be attributed to the tragic
historical events experienced by the characters. Therefore, this uncertainty keeps the
characters constantly vigilant and prepared for whatever may happen. The author
demonstrates all of this throughout the story, such as when she emphasizes that Zara's
family always had their suitcases prepared in the closet because "They said it was in
case of fire," or when as it is recounted that after Chernobyl "her grandmother had
started to prepare dry bread in case the war broke out."

It can be said that the work is narrated entirely in the third person by an omniscient
narrator, but it is true that the author begins to narrate in the first person when some
letters appear. This may be due to the author's intention for the reader to more easily
identify with the feelings of the characters involved. The use of the third person in the
work provides a more objective perspective for the reader to draw their own
conclusions. This narrative structure spanning two time periods allows the reader to
gradually understand the complexity of the situation of the protagonists.

(S. Oksanen 2008, 35)

(S. Oksanen, Purge 2008, 149)
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the story set in Estonia tells the tale of a
country initially subjected to German fascism and later immersed in Soviet oppression,
where fear reigns within individuals. The author uses it as a driving force to introduce
the reader to the psychology of the characters. Through this fear, Sofi demonstrates how
fear can directly impact the lives and decisions of people willing to confront it in order
to overcome it.

In this city, the author introduces complex characters and focuses on their development,
showcasing their motivations, interpersonal relationships, and traumas. All of this is
narrated from various perspectives of different people to provide the reader with a more
complete view of the story. It primarily depicts the lives and sensations of the two main
characters, Zara and Aliide, with a focus on female characters, highlighting the role of
women facing extremely challenging situations. This was the case for Zara, who,
through her character, reflects the reality that thousands of women confronted after
being deceived by promises of a better life in the West. Aliide, on the other hand,
represents mistrust and fear due to past experiences, and as the plot unfolds, the
relationship between the two is revealed. Aliide is, in fact, Zara's grandmother's sister,
and from a young age, Aliide envied and even harbored resentment towards her.

What I would like to highlight the most about the novel is how Sofi narrates the
toughest moments in the lives of the protagonists. She doesn't sugarcoat or embellish
them; she portrays them as they are, giving the narrative a unique realism and harshness,
making the reader empathize in an astonishing way.

3
Sources

“Biografía”, sofioksanen, https://www.sofioksanen.fi/biografia.

Jurado, Tati, “Purga”, El Libro durmiente, 2018,

https://www.ellibrodurmiente.org/purga-sofi-oksanen/.

Oksanen, Sofi, Purge, Finland: WSOY, 2008.

“Purga-Sofi, Oksanen,” Los Libros de Dánae, 2014,

https://loslibrosdedanae.blogspot.com/2014/07/purga-sofi-oksanen.html.

(S. Oksanen 2008, 35)

(S. Oksanen, Purge 2008, 149)