The Color Purple Essay

The Color Purple, was released in 1985 and was set in the early until middle of the 1900s, it was one of the first featured movies to openly discuss the topic of domestic violence as a main part of the film. This has been very significant because it sets a standard of normalizing domestic violence in the characters lives, which Walker was able to show and develop through Celie and how she mistreatment in the hands of her stepfather and husband. In addition, a powerful message about how people who have been oppressed can unite together to overcome their oppressors. By the character finding out who she is and taking value in what she can become, this movie shows a feminist power. While Celie was searching for truth, she comes to realize that the patriarchal culture she went through in the South is abusive to all women. She learns that women can be equal to men in in matters of love and finance, power, and in knowledge, when she met Shug and they escape from Albert. Near the end of the movie, when Celie returns to Georgia, she isn’t submissive and weak anymore; On the contrary, she has become a competent, self-confident woman who knows she can be satisfied without depending on anybody else but herself.

Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple, focuses on the struggles of a poor and uneducated African American girl, who is verbally, physically and sexually abused by several men in her life. She feels worthless and becomes completely submissive. Her only way to express her feelings is through private letters to God. An emphasized theme in this work is that expressing one’s thoughts and emotions is essential in order to develop an inner sense of self.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a story written in 1982 that is about the life struggles of a young African American woman named Celie. The novel takes the reader through several main topics including the poor treatment of African American women, domestic abuse, family relationships, and also religion. The story takes place mostly in rural Georgia in the early 1900’s and demonstrates the difficult life of sharecropper families. Specifically how life was endured from the perspective of an African American woman. The Color Purple is written in the form of letters that Celie narrates explaining the events that took place at certain points in her life. Celie endures physical and emotional abuse by some of the people around her including

Celie becomes a different and stronger women towards the end of the book compared to when the book started. “I think I can’t even remember the last time I felt mad, I say. I used to git mad at my mammy cause she put a lot of work on me. Then I see how sick she is. Couldn’t stay mad at her. Couldn’t be mad at my daddy cause he my daddy. Bible say, Honor father and mother no matter what. Then after while every time I got mad, or start to feel mad, I got sick. Felt like throwing up. Terrible feeling. Then I start to feel nothing at all” (Walker, Alice). Celie has been hurt so much she has basically become numb to life. She never gets mad because she knows there are more difficult problems in life. She used to get mad at her mother and father but now realizes she should not do that. “I have daydreamed not fairy tales but of falling swords, of putting guns to my heart or head, and of slashing my wrists with a razor” (Alice Walker). After Alice kept having those daydreams, she then later went to Spelman College on a scholarship. Celie and Alice both end up living a better life than the past and getting what they deserve. They learn that there are worse situations in the world and they have both been through one of those events and that they should never take anything for granted.

Reading and writing gave her time alone to reflect on herself. Sofia teaches Celie about self-reassurance, to stand up for herself, how to be a good wife and most important don’t back down to anyone regardless of who they may be. On the other hand, Shug teaches her how to be beautiful, how to love, and how to live her life as if it was her last. While Celie enjoys, what has been given to her, she uses these tools to find the identity in herself. I had my own help from my Aunt who taught me about self-love, how to cope with my tragedies and daily responsibilities. These were the things that were missing in my life. When Sofia tells Celie about fighting her family, she explains to Celie that she will continue to fight for the rest of her life. “All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain’t safe in a family of men, but I ain’t never had to fight in my own house”! (Broadway Musical- The Color Purple) I know personally that I had to fight my family as well. Even after the tragedies in my life I am still fighting a battle of abuse that have been going on for over 30 years. Some family I talk to but most them I had to permanently let go. I felt that it would be the best thing for me like Celie who drew up enough courage to leave her abusive husband after 30 years of marriage. Celie’s combats that she had to encounter made her a stronger woman to believe not only in life but importantly

That is, until Shug stepped in. Alone, however, Celie was simply an ugly, skinny girl too afraid to stop those who pushed her around. Celie was a girl hoping simply to survive the horror that was her life. Conflict: A conflict in the story is Celie vs. Men.

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

“Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and hopefully, we shall overcome.” ~ Rosa Parks. In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Celie is the main character, which leads a life filled with abuse. As result of women who surround and help her, Celie becomes stronger and overcomes the abuse she’s experienced.

The Color Purple “Oh, Celie, unbelief is a terrible thing. And so is the hurt we cause others unknowingly.” This one quote represents this book because Ceclie was abused by her father and husband. She soon gets the courage to be herself when Shug arrives. Faith, Ceclie, an independent woman, and loving yourself for who you are a few things from the movie The Color Purple.

She finally has had enough of it and takes her life back for herself and for her children that she will one day be reunited with. One of the best lines in this film comes for Celie when she starts to come into her own and knows her worth. Celie is leaving Mister and goes on to say: “I'm poor, black; I may even be ugly. But dear God! I'm here!

In The Color Purple, Alice Walker uses symbolism to represent the something good can come out of something bad, no matter how broken the pieces are. Celie’s and Sofia’s relationship are symbolized as the different phases of a pair of curtains. The thread represents their bonding and beginning process of healing, and the quilt represents all of their experiences and final healed relationship. Celie’s and Sofia’s friendship is symbolized by four phases a pair of curtains go thrpugh. First, the curtains are brand new when Celie gives them as a wedding gift to Sofia.

Celie was feeling betrayed by Shug because she was leaving to go with Germaine, when she knew Celie was defenseless, and that she was the only person she has loved besides her sister Nettie, that has also left her. Shug did the right thing for Celie because without her there Celie couldn’t lean on Shug for everything and it taught her how to be strong and care for herself. Celie became independent at this moment because her growth was complete because she could stand up for herself and support

Shug arrives in the summer 1916 and Celie’s first real love is born. Mister’s name, Albert, is discovered during Shug’s first day at the farm. Celie watches Albert, with child-like amusement and curiosity, as he fumbles through trying to impress Shug by making her breakfast. In an effort to win over Shug, who previously declared Celie as “ugly,” she prepares an award winning breakfast that even Shug couldn’t turn away. Over time, a relationship begins to form between Shug and Celie, leading Shug to write and sing a song dedicated to her at the jook joint, filling Celie with an unknown type approval and love. Celie shows us that her capacity to love and to be loved is blooming during the scene of her first kiss with Shug.

I feel every person should care about sexism and racism, because these two issues affect everyone. “The Color Purple” is a great film that focuses on the problems African American women faced during the early 1900s. "The Color Purple" provides a disturbing and realistic account into the life of Celie, a poor southern black woman with a sad and abusive past and Sophia, another poor southern black woman with a sad and abusive past.

She has to deal with the loss of her kids, but one day she gets to see one of them. She always called her little girl Olivia, but when she met the woman who had her child, she said, “We calls her Pauline.” (pg.16). That made Celie sad, but then the woman says, “But I calls her Olivia.” She just said that she looked like an Olivia and this made Celie happy.