This study aims to describe the subconscious loss of self of women through literature. The research used the descriptive qualitative method, Murray Bowen’s ‘Family theory’ and ‘Theory of Differentiation'. The research data is collected from dialogues and monologues of characters in ‘The Color Purple’ novel. The research results showed the protagonist, Celie, and Shug was in contrast on the scale of differentiation. Shug was able to have high levels of differentiation even in the societal setup which constantly demeaned and oppressed her, but Celie gave in and accepted her fate. Celie’s life was a series of dysfunctional families, trauma bonds, multigenerational oppression, and societal pressure, which lead her to have a low level of self-differentiation thus making her misery rigid and unendurable. She tries, from a young age, to protect, and foster her sister which also keeps her sane and gives her a sense of purpose but she loses herself in the cycle of oppression.

Keywords : Self-Differentiation, Dysfunctional Family, The Color Purple.