A literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude is a dynamic character. Clie is the narrator as well as the protagonist of The Color Purple, she is also a victim of abuse, repeatedly raped by her stepfather and Mister. When the novel begins to unfold, we learn that Celie lacks power and she believes she is more of an object rather than a human being due to all the torture she has been put through the majority of her life. When Celie begins to talk to Sofia that is when we first find out that she knows that men see her as a powerless object. Clie admits that she is indeed jealous of Sofia for being able to stand up to her husband and defend herself from any physical abuse. Clie
Throughout life, we lose a countless number of possessions and many are taken away from us. Loss is an inevitable part of life, we lose friends, family, cell phones, papers, and even tiny items such as paper clips. Though, most people do not actually appreciate what they have until it is taken away from them. In Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Lina loses her lifestyle, family, and freedoms when she and her family are taken as war prisoners during World War II.
Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, portrays the main character Celie as an introverted butterfly who has yet to come out of her cocoon, hiding away from confrontation and actions that could cause negative reactions. As the story progresses, she blossoms before the reader, becoming more present in her world where she would otherwise be shuttered in. Her character development is due to the introduction of two very empowering and independent women, acting as female archetypes throughout the novel. Shug, a woman with a fiery personality that ignites inspiration in Celie to further herself as a woman, is the main focal point of the female archetype in this novel. Celie wants to change herself; not to fit into the mold in which Shug has pushed herself into, but to better her life. Shug’s personality was able to rid Celie of the internal dark cloud living inside her. Shug is clearly identified as a female archetype throughout the novel; an empowering woman who stands against the odds she has been faced with. Another female archetype in the novel is Sofia, Mr._____’s (Celie’s husband) daughter in law. Sofia shares many qualities when compared to Shug; however, in a more feisty and stand
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.
The Color Purple revolves around the life of Celie, a young black woman growing up in the poverty-ridden South. In order to find herself and gain independence, Celie must deal with all manner of abuse, including misogyny, racism and poverty. When she is a young girl of just 14, Celie is sexually assaulted by a man she believes is her father. She has two children by her rapist, both of who
Celie is not a typical protagonist. In Alice Walker's The Color Purple, the main character Celie is an ugly, poor girl who is severely lacking in self-confidence. However, Celie transforms throughout the course of the novel and manages to realize herself as a colorful, beautiful, and proud human being. Celie becomes a powerful individual.
In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Celie leads a life filled with abuse at the hands of the most important men in her life. As result of the women who surround and help her, Celie becomes stronger and overcomes the abuse she experienced. The three most influential women in Celie’s life are her sister Nettie, her daughter-in-law Sofia, and the singer Shug Avery. These are the women who lead Celie out of her shell and help her turn from a shy, withdrawn woman to someone who was free to speak her mind and lead her own independent life.
Within The Color Purple by Alice Walker, women are treated as inferior to men therefore they must obey them. Through the strength and wisdoms Celie gains from other women, she learns to overcome her oppression and realize her self worth as a woman. The women she has met throughout her life, and the woman she protected since young, are the people that helped her become a strong independent woman. Sofia and Shug were there for Celie when she needed someone to look up to and depend on. Nettie was able to push Celie to become a more educated, independent person. The main source of conflict in this book is Celie’s struggle with becoming an independent woman who needs not to rely on a man. Throughout the book we see her grow as a person and
The two main male characters Mr. ______ and Alphonso indirect characterization why does that have to do with the injustice of Black women? Both characters are significant since their characters symbolize oppression. The quotes above are confirmation that Mr. ______ along with Alphonso are oppressors both exercise their power. Both of them treat Celie who character exemplify Black womanhood. In addition, to the abuse that they subject Celie to on, a daily basis shows the unfair and ill-treatment that Black women must deal with in society. The injustice that Celie face is domestic violence, verbal abuse, and rape
In The Color Purple, there were several themes such as Violence, Sexuality, Power, God or Spiritually. Power is a key role in this novel. Walker focuses throughout the novel that the ability to express someone’s thoughts and feelings is critical to developing a sense of self. Initially, Celie is truly unable to resist those who abuse her. Remembering Alphonso’s warning that she “better not never tell nobody but God” about him abusing her. , Celie knows that the only way to keep it is to remain silent and invisible. Celie is emphasize an object, an entirely accepting party who has no power to give herself through
Celie, the narrator of The Color Purple, is an uneducated, submissive, 14-year old black girl who lives in Georgia. Celie is constantly being abused and raped by her father, Alphonso. He has already impregnated Celie twice. The first one was a girl while the second one was a boy. All her children were taken away by her father after they were born. Her father told her that she better not tell anybody about their relationship but God, which explains why every letter she write begins with “Dear God”. Celie’s mother is happy because Alphonso doesn’t bother her anymore, but the truth is that Alphonso has been raping Celie as a substitute for her mother to gratify his sexual needs. Celie’s mother becomes seriously sick and eventually dies. Alphonso brings home another woman but continues to sexually
Characters throughout Alice Walker’s The Color Purple can be evaluated and analyzed using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a five-stage model consisting of fundamental needs and growth needs. His theory states that the basic, lower tiered needs have to be met before the growth, higher tiered needs can be met, to ultimately reach the top tier, self-actualization. In The Color Purple, Walker shows the eventual progress to self-actualization through the protagonist, Celie. Celie’s growth is shown through her letters to both God and her sister Nettie. Celie fulfills her basic physiological needs when she gets married to Mr._ because she is finally able to escape her father’s abuse, beatings, and rape. It takes a while, but Celie gains safety and security when Shug Avery tells her, “I won’t leave… until I know Albert won’t even think about beating you” (Walker 76). The relationship that Celie forms with Shug helps Celie satisfy her belonging and intimacy needs. Their love for each other can be shown when Shug states, “cause she [Nettie] the only one you ever love… sides me” (120). As Celie begins her life in Memphis, she meets the respect/self-respect needs when she opens her own business making and selling pants. Celie feels so pleased and shows her character development when she says, “I got love, I got work, I got money, friends, and time” (218). Celie finally reaches self-actualization by the end of the novel. She has a successful business, is able to be independent in her own house, and realizes that she can bring herself happiness and that through every situation she needs to see the bright side. This is evidently shown when Celie is talking to Mr._ and says, “If she [Shug] come, I be happy. If she don’t I be content” (288). Celie’s evolution to reach self-actualization is clearly displayed in The Color Purple as Celie faces and overcomes hardships and learns to be confident in herself.
The play The Color Purple shows the way women are portrayed with lost voices. Celie one of the main characters was a very lost girl from the start of the play. She grew up with mistreatment and rape throughout most of her young years. As the play continued Celie grew older and smarter, she created a great relationship with her younger sister Nettie, in which she took care of and loved. Even though, Celie went through many obstacles she still attempted to show her strength amongst others.
The Color Purple is the story of Celie’s life, starting from her adolescent years. At a very young and fragile age, Celie was deprived of her dignity as a woman, through the assault by her stepfather, the treatment she endured from her husband, and the disappearance of the one human she adored, her sister Nettie. As her days passed by with more worry and strife, Celie lost faith in love and resented all signs of a kind and honorable God. Shug Avery arrived in this small town to rekindle with her
If any woman had to answer if she ever had trouble accepting herself, the response would be yes. According to Susan David, “All healthy human beings have an inner stream of thoughts and feelings that include criticism, doubt, and fear” (125-128). Depending on the person Alice Walker has as the recipients of Celie’s and Nettie’s letters, the text alters. The Color Purple is about a girl named Celie, who grows up in the south during the early 1920’s, surrounded by racism, sexism, and abuse from her father and husband. Alice Walker wrote The Color Purple in epistolary style and it traces Celie’s journey of finding her identity and path of finally accepting herself. On her journey she encounters a couple of women including one named Shug
The 1900’s – a time when blacks were segregated from whites and women were seen as inferior to men. Alice Walker's character Celie, from The Color Purple, was ugly and terrified as a young girl. Though many trials and tribulations, she would become strong and independent. In addition, Celie built up a resistance to the hurt and suffering that she painfully endured from her stepfather and husband. She eventually allowed herself to not take simple things for granted therefore recognize the beauty of everyday life. In her final years, Celie is portrayed in a blissful state and displays her independence as a mature woman. Alice Walker’s use of the first-person point of view, tone, and