Puhdistus – Purge, a novel of Finnish-Estonian writer, Sofi Oksanen

 

In this text I want to share with you how much I felt agitated by Oksanen’s literary output. This author writes in Finnish, although her mother comes from Estonia. Sofi Oksanen had lived some time in Estonia and had experienced lack of understanding in relation to her origin.  That’s why the artist wants to tell about her vision of women’s rights. And she does it very well, we know that because of numerous regards and critics’,readers’ and even politics’ recognition. Being only 31 year old, she have received the most prestigious award, Finlandia-palkinto for Puhdistus(Purge). Besides, she’s the first foreign author who won Prix du Roman fnac. Oksanen’s books cause violent reactions and controversy, equally in Finland, Estonia and Russia. She made her mission of showing and transmiting knowledge about recent history of these regions. In Finnish prose, she is classified as ambitious psychological current. Undoubtedly, she’s one of the most influential female writers of this time. Here we will discuss some aspects of “Puhdistus”.

The story begins with girl’s escape, who was in poor condition. Very young woman seemed to be neglected and terrified. It turns out that she have reached relative’s home. Aliide Truu unwillingly lets her stay under her roof, however, she suspects the girl want to harm her and that she is a spy.

Further, we find out that abused miss is Aliide’s sister granddaughter. Zara was given a photo and adress of her grandmother’s sister. He asked grandaughter to find Aliide’s home. Though all the story we discover Aliide’s and Ingrid’s life in occupied Estonia by Soviet authorities.

In Puhdistus the oppression’s and exclusion’s motive are combined. The politics uses violence to  carry out its objectives. We observe the destiny of two women: Aliide Truu (Estonian old lady) and Zara (young Russian-Estonian girl forced to prostitution). The author shows how power used by politics and mafia opresses women and causes deep shame and social alienation, even stigmatisation.

In order to provide oneself a feeling of freedom Aliide kills her sister’s husband (who had to stay hidden in basement because of his partisan activity) and then her own husband Martin (a communist activist who she had married of convenience). In the last part of the novel she shoots two Russian stalkers who were coming after Zara. This way Aliide creates a perspective of freedom for both. Whereas, Zara suffocates drunk mafia’s boss with a pillow. What is interesting is than Oksanen doesn’t criticize these acts. None of the characters have guily conscience.

The story has three points of view –Aliide’s, Zara’s and Hans’ narrative. All of them are relatives and everybody experiences atrocity of Russian and Communist power. Aliide has been raped, Zara has been kidnapped and sold, Hans had had to live many years in hiding to not expose his family into risk of being killed by occupied soldiers.

Puhdistus has been translated into 38 languages. There is a movie with the same title.