Along with the unjust treatment, oppression comes with mental effects. Dana goes from observing the 1800s to actually living it and becomes fully immersed in the culture because she became consumed by oppression. She goes from fighting and rebelling for what’s right to giving in. As an illustration, when Rufus is attempting to rape her she thinks, “I realized how easy it would be for me to continue to be still and forgive him even this,” (Butler p. 259). Her mental state dwindled due to months of belittlement and she needed to fear for her life to get that life back. Libby had a similar experience because she is scared of her own life. Believing she is worthless was something that came long before she got letters claiming that was the truth.
