Even though Senegal was on its way to independence, the French still viewed Africans as something less than a person. In a scene in the film where Diouana serves her bosses and their guests, the guests treat her as if she is a new specimen that has just been discovered and instead of calling her a she, they call her an "it" like an animal. Although Madame apologizes to her, she is not sincere and soon tells Diouana to bring them coffee. Madam continually degrades her overtime and makes Diouana feel like she is just a domestic slave. The new life she always dreamed of turned into a living nightmare from which she couldn't wake up. I think Diouana was a fish out of water when she left for France. Everyone was ignorant of her culture and didn't really understand where she came from. Additionally, being unable to speak the French language made it more difficult for her to communicate, so she used her actions, but still no one understood what was happening to her and, as a result, Madame increased the abuse. In order to free herself from this inhumane treatment, Diouana commits suicide to obtain her personal freedom in a drastic way..