Oppression is pervasive that has shaped history, society, and individual lives in profound ways. Jael Richardson’s “Gutter Child” is a dystopian novel. The novel Gutter Child is about various people who live in a society that is filled with injustice and oppression and is displayed throughout the entire book through the difficulties faced by people referred to as gutter people. Jael Richardson's “Gutter Child” displaces the topic of oppression leading characters to make impossible decisions due to the situations they are left in. This is shown through the character of Tilly who has to make decisions for the sake of her child and Violet who committed suicide left with no other decision due to her situation. The way the oppressive gutter system …show more content…
She made the painful decision of giving up her sick baby's life along with her own through suicide. It shows the extent of suffering caused by the system. This is shown through the quote "She just cries and cries like this. All the time. Because she knows what is coming. She doesn't want to go in there either." (Richardson 287). This quote is supposed to define some of the last words said by Violet before she committed suicide as it seems she had no other choice because she was not allowed to give away her baby. After all, the baby was too sick. This conflicted with her plan in life because she wanted to get rid of her gutter debt but was unable to because she cannot give away her baby leading her to make the sad decision of suicide. The Gutter system has a major impact on everyone's lives, including Violet's. If the oppressive system didn't exist, their lives would have turned out differently, and Violet might not have chosen to end her life. The Gutter system is the reason behind her decision to commit suicide. This is through the quote “-I can't go back.” (Richardson 286) showing Violet talking to Elimina before her and her child's death. This quote shows Violet telling Elimina that it's too late and that she had came to the universal conclusion that suicide was the only way. Through this, it comes to show how much this oppressive society can affect one's emotions