English & Literature

Who is Madge from If He Hollers Let Him Go: A Novel and what is their importance? If_He_Hollers_Let_Him_Go English & Literature Madge | If He Hollers Let Him Go: A Novel

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Madge is a lower class white woman who works at the shipyards. In the 1940s, because so many of the men had been drafted into the war, women were drafted into the jobs men had left behind. Madge, portrayed from Jones's point of view, is a manipulative liar, putting on an act of almost terrified fear whenever she sees him but in fact wanting him sexually. She has a couple of opportunities to have him, opportunities he almost takes, but refuses. Frustrated and angry, when an opportunity to take revenge for what she sees as his humiliation of her presents itself, Madge accuses him of rape, knowing that he has little or no hope of defending himself because he is black.