Symbolism In Alice Walker's The Color Purple

However, for no justified reason she is abused arbitrarily by Albert regardless of how well of a worker she is to the household and the children. In her little discussion with Shug Avery, she explains how Albert beats her for no apparent reason. “He beat me when you not here, I say”, “What he beat you for? She ast. For being me and not you” (75-76). Fortunately, towards the end of the novel, Celie makes a decision to leave the continuous cycle of abuse and becomes an independent woman who has her own clothing company. Celie knew she was better than what Albert thought of her and because of her epiphany she discovered more inner beauty and self- confidence. All in all she received more respect and was looked more as a human being than a servant. Ironically Celie’s antithesis, Sofia, had her poor decision making progressively get her into a deeper

The Colour Purple is a novel that was written by the 1983 Pulitzer Prize winner, Alice Walker. The Novel was published in 1982 and was later turned into a film by Steven Spielberg in 1985. The book is about a young girl, Celie who was oppressed and seek to find happiness in life. Despite her inner turmoil, she had a strong belief in God, and also hopes that she would find her estranged sister, Nettie who loved her with all her heart. She got pregnant at an early age by the man she thought was her father. Celie was also a young bride who was being abused by her husband.

Shug helps Celie with self-identification. A bondage that Celie faces is the discovery of Nettie’s letters that Albert has hidden from her. She has regained bondage with her sister whom she thought was no longer alive. She bonded with Shug to find the letters and with the help of Shug she was advised not to kill Albert even though it was tough for Celie to accept this for the love

She learns that a person does not have to be extraordinary to be loved, in fact people can be very ordinary, like herself, and deserve to be loved just the same. During this time in the novel Celie also finds the courage to stand up to Mr.___ and leave him. This action takes a great deal of self-respect because here for the first time the reader sees that Celie knows she deserves better than Mr.___. Celie is set over the edge when it is discover that Mr.___ has been deliberately separating Celie from her sister Nettie for many years. When Celie finds all Nettie’s letters Mr.___ has been hiding it set her into a spiraling rage that Shug calm her down from. Celie tells Mr.___, “Until you do right by me, everything you touch will crumble” (intext). The only way Celie can cope without killing Mr.___ is by making pants. The pants of course were Shug’s idea and Shug funds Celie so she can make as many pants as her heart desires. Later in the novel Celie has moved out of Mr.___’s house and made so many pants that she is something of a master. She opens her own store to sell her popular pants and finally is self sufficient. At this time Celie also was able to mend old bridges. When Shug left her for a younger man Celie found good company in Mr.___. Celie also was able to fully love Shug and do what was best for her even if it hurt Celie. (quote about loving shug) With all

As Nettie receives opportunities Celie could never fathom, their relationship comes to a halt. Celie stops receiving letters from her sister and is left to take care of her husband’s obnoxious children from a previous marriage, and is verbally/physically abused on a daily basis by both her husband and his children. Celie’s husband has a torrent affair with Shug Avery, a blues singer with a practical mentality who does not endure any mistreatment from anyone, regardless of their gender. When Shug Avery falls into Celie’s care, Shug Avery teaches Celie a thing or two about self-confidence and the strength she must find within herself to stand up to her husband. Towards the end of the novel, Shug Avery encourages Celie to leave her husband and move with her to Memphis, where she can escape the pain of her past and for once in her life be happy.

The purple color itself symbolizes love in the story. When Celie is shopping for the first time in her life for new clothes, she wants to get something purple. However, she cannot find any

Life is a rollercoaster filled with ups and downs. Left turns, right turns, and sometimes completely upside down loop de loops. The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a story about a colored woman named Celie who writes letters to God while living through extreme oppression and abuse. Celie eventually overcomes her oppressors by finding her purpose in life through friendship, love, hope, and change in faith. Discovering hope, love, and faith leads to a fulfilling life through difficult times.

In other environments she must play a role.  With Celie, she is able to be herself.  Celie, too, benefits from her nurturing relationship with Celie.  Shug is used to a living a life that had about as much nurturing and love in it as Celie's.  She says of her mother, "Mama never love to do nothing had to do with touching anybody, she say.  I try to kiss her, she turn her mouth away.  Say, cut that out, Lillie" (Walker 125-26).

The most important aspect of The Color Purple is the growth and maturity of each individual. There is a huge transition of many of the characters from the beginning to the end of the novel.  This evolution of the characters is a recurring theme that runs throughout the novel and can be tracked by Celie’s letters.  The women struggle  for freedom in a society where they are inferior to men.  Towards the end of the novel one can sense the slow evolution towards the increasing empowerment of women.

Early in the book, Celie states how Shug Avery was “like a queen” (pg.22) to her. Already the indication of her influence shows up strong. Celie admires her and would follow her behavior and so when she comes to visit, that's exactly what starts happening. Shug Avery also makes her husband weak. When they learn of her coming to town, he actually asks Celie, after she told him he looks nice, “You think so?” (pg. 25). Celie mentions how it's the first time he has asked her anything and it leaves her stunned. Sofia is the first

Celie is in awe of Shug and Sophia. Both women show spirit and strength of character. Shug is infamous in the area, particularly due to her long-standing relationship with the married Albert, Until the arrival of Shug, Celie lived in fear of Albert (understandably considering the basis of their marriage) and she is amazed to see the effect Shug has on Albert, reducing him almost into a little boy. When Celie and Shug become friends, Celie’s life improves dramatically. Not only does she now have a close female friend but Shug is able to use her influence and discourage Albert from beating Celie. Towards the end of the novel, the relationship that Albert and Celie both have with Shug draws them together and although Albert asks Celie to marry him again, she declines. Sexually she has no interest in men but is happy to remain friends. At the end of The Color Purple Celie and Albert manage to form a friendship that they didn’t have when they were married. Celie stood up to Albert and had the courage to leave him.

In The Color Purple, Alice Walker illustrates the lives of a female African American before the Civil Rights Movement. A novel that describes female empowerment, The Color Purple demonstrates the domestic violence women faced in the South. Walker tells the story through Celie, a young African American girl who faces constant hardships until she stands up for herself with the help of her closest friends – other women undergoing the same difficulties. Even though men controlled females in the South, the author emphasizes the strength of female empowerment because females struggled to survive during this time.

Shug Avery is someone Celie admired from a young age. Shug’s exuberance and charm with people are qualities Celie never dreamed of having herself until Shug walks into her life and Celie does more with her life by actually overcoming the abuse and becomes someone more. “I ast her to give me the picture. An all night long I stare at it. An now when I dream, I dream of Shug Avery.” (Walker 7). Shug comes into Celie’s life as her husband’s mistress who was very ill but not lacking in character. She treats Celie with disrespect at first, but after living with her for some time and being nursed back to health by her Shug gains a respect for her. She teaches Celie how to speak for herself and to defend herself against Mr. Shug is the one who helps Celie escape by taking her on her tour where Celie learns how to expertly sew pants. This is another major step towards independence because Celie is no longer financially dependent on anyone but herself because she creates a successful business by making pants. Upon her return to her home, she inherits her father’s home thereby completely separating her from the men who held control over her. She can now receive her sister’s letters and make her own money. The people who love her surround her and her personality develops unhindered by abuse. Celie’s idol came through to set her free and now idolizes her to an extent.

     Shug is a woman who does whatever she wants whenever she wants. She is a free spirit but she does have values and is a major contributor in the transformation of Celie. Shug enjoys her life and tries to spread the happiness to those around her. She is aware of her own physical beauty and uses it to control men. For women like Celie, it isn't that easy. Celie's father tells Albert, 'She ugly. She ain't smart either.'; (9). This is where Celie develops her low self esteem. Shug tries to make Celie realize that she is a beautiful person by getting to know her and loving her.

“Celie is coming with us, say Shug… You a lowdown dog is what’s wrong, [Celie] say. It’s time to leave you and enter into creation” (199). Celie and Albert’s roles have switched at this point because Celie is the one with the upper hand leaving Albert speechless. She has developed her sense of power and authority through Shug’s help. Celie voices her beliefs and rages at Albert for all he has ever done to her, which show her development as a character. From her quiet and fearful personality, Celie has now found her sense of self and authority. She completely knocks Albert over and does not allow any room for him to talk. Her power is shown as she expresses her feelings about when he took Nettie away from her, and of how he treated her all these years. The friendship of Celie and Shug develop the character of Celie. Shug helps Celie to shape her character from guiding her through her beliefs, retrieving what is most important to her, and helping her to gain confidence and power against Mr. Albert.