preview

Color Purple Thesis

Good Essays
Open Document

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, redefines work in this society by connecting independence, happiness, and purpose with one’s job. Walker shows through multiple characters and situations that the work that makes one happy does not necessary meet the gender constructs or pressure by surrounding people, and it is often necessary to break these work barriers to find happiness. This novel is attempting to show the reader that finding work that makes one happy takes time due to the pressure to do work that will simply sustain you, rather than fulfill you. From the start of Celie’s life, she is doing what she feels is required of her and what she feels is her only option, such as marrying Mr. and caring for his children. She is forced to marry …show more content…

Shug’s self-reliance and confidence was not built throughout the novel, but established consistently over the course of the book, despite men’s feelings about her actions and attitude. As long as the reader knows Shug, she is a singer who performs because it is what she is good at and what she enjoys to do. She has work that she loves, therefore she possess qualities that lead to Celie posing the rhetorical question, “Do Shug Avery mind Mr.? … she can sit on him if he try to bother her.” (64). Nettie’s purpose varies from Shug’s in that she began as a young, poor, uneducated girl. Through determination and luck, she finds missionary work that gives her a sense of duty, as in pushing Tashi to go to school. After decades of this missionary work, Nettie returns home with a family, who she introduces to Celie as “my husband Samuel… These our children Olivia and Adam and this is Adam’s wife Tashi.” (293) Her work created a direct path to her happiness and accomplishments. Sofia’s independence, work, and happiness is also connected, but unravels throughout the novel rather than builds. She begins as “strong, healthy girl” (32) who, when confronted by male dominances, is said to simply “stand there in her slip. Never blink an eye.” (38). After decades of being under the control of a white family, she is more timid and less confident. Upon returning home, “Her bigger children married and gone, her littlest children and at her, don’t know who she is. Think she act funny, look old and dote on that little white gal she raise.” (200) While Sofia’s forced work ruined her connections to her family, Celie’s

Get Access
Related
Get Access