Copper Sun Polly Character Analysis

Cooper Knuf

CA 9, Block 4

April 17, 2023

Polly’s Path (Kowalske, 2023)

There were over 90,000 indentured servants in the 1700s. Polly, a character in the book Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper, was one of these indentured servants. Polly starts off as a very racist white girl (most indentured servants are white). She views Amari, a slave from Africa, as competition because she wants to live in the house and learn how to be a “proper” woman growing up. However, later in the story she realizes that the plantation owners (the Derby’s) do not have these same intentions, and now she has to live with the slaves. After Polly starts to spend time with the slaves, she realizes that the slaves are not that different from herself. Her views change about

The first way Polly grows psychologically is learning not to view slaves as competition. Polly’s first psychological change is when she is talking to Amari and they are discussing the death of Polly’s parents. “She reached This passage is important because it shows how Polly is starting to grow in the novel. She starts to show a physical emotion. Before this, Polly has shown no real signs or had no motivation to work or be friends with slaves because of their color difference. Now, she hits a turning point and is starting to be more sympathetic toward Amari.

Another way Polly grows psychologically is realizing there is strength in numbers and that being independent is not always best. Amari and Polly have been arguing because Amari got food poisoning, but Polly says “I think we need each other”(Draper 209) . This exchange happens when they are in the forest. They were originally arguing about where to go but they realize what's most important is to stay together. Polly takes control of the situation and for the first time, considers Amari in her

The first way Polly grows morally is by realizing slavery is wrong and cruel. Polly can barely even watch as Amari gets whipped. She is realizing “slavery is a horrible thing.” as “Polly inhaled and held her breath” (Draper 145) When Amari is getting whipped Polly feels sorry for her. Once she realizes this, she feels empathy and starts to develop a friendship with Amari.

We next see a moral change in Polly when she decides to be a good friend.This is important because this is when Polly finally takes some lead while they’re running away. Once they do this Polly has to be a great friend to Amari and not get mad at her whenever she makes a mistake.“We’re in this together Amari” (Draper 217) Polly and Amari are very upset with each other at this moment. However Polly shows a great level of maturity when she decides to hold them together instead of going off on their