Dessa Rose Summary
Williams, Sherley A.

Dessa Rose Overview

In her novel Dessa Rose, Sherley Anne Williams uses her protagonist Dessa to explore the implications of enslavement on the individual's sense of self. Through a complex exchange of points of view, Williams gradually illustrates Dessa's journey towards physical, mental, and emotional freedom. The novel challenges perceived notions of race, color, and individuality within the enslaved American South. Her characters bravely subvert oppressive societal structures as a means of forming community and kinship that transcends warped cultural trends.