Throughout the novel several characters challenge their gender roles. When Harpo and Sofia got married, Harpo noticed that Sofia was different from all the other women. Sofia believed that she could and would make her own decisions. Harpo had to learn how to reason with her and obtain her thoughts on things. Harpo doesn't like the way she thinks and goes to his father for advice on what to do. When asking for advice Celie’s husband suggested that Harpo beat her. Harpo’s facial expression shows that he really doesn't want to beat his wife, but Harpo is too concerned with his social status as a “man” to care. When Harpo attempts to beat his wife it makes the relationship between them two worse. When he attempts to beat her, she fights Harpo back and wins. To Harpo this is a big deal because few women are confident enough to fight back. In the novel after this happens Sofia says “I loves Harpo, God knows I do. But I'll …show more content…
Shug is not married in the beginning of the novel which is not normal because most women were married with kids by their early twenty’s. Shug has children but left them with her parents which is also not normal because most women stayed home to raise their kids, but Shug lived a different life. She was a singer and traveled which was not normal for a black woman to do. She is the complete opposite of Celie, but is probably the biggest influence on her. When Shug first met Celie she said “You as ugly as sin”. (Walker, The Color Purple, 1982) As Shug moves in and sees Celie obeying her husband’s demands she starts to see her true beauty. Some people say “The Color Purple” is only a movie, but many black people disagree. After the release of the movie many women stood behind the movie and agreed saying that is accurately reflected their own experience or experience of women they know, but many black men and some black women said that it gives a misleading picture of blacks in America and
• May believe that accomplishment of one goal or activity fulfills obligations to minority communities; may engage in token hiring practices.
The first woman she meets is Sophia, who marries Harpo. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself, even to a man. When Mr. _____ asks Harpo if he ever hits her, Harpo is embarrassed, and answers that he hasn’t. So Mr. ______ tells him he should, because “Wives is like children. You have to let ‘em know who got the upper hand. Nothing can do that better than a good sound beating.” (37) While he may have thought he gave his son some good advice, when Harpo tries it, Sophia knocks him right back into place by beating him up instead. When Celie and Sophia talk about Mr. _____, Sophia tells her “You ought to bash Mr. _____ head open.”(37), but she knows she would never get away with it. She’s just coping with things as they are because
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.
There are numerous works of literature that recount a story- a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story that simply aspires to touch the hearts and souls of all of those who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of these kinds of literature is racism. In America specifically, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her renowned book The Color Purple, Alice Walker narrates the journey of an African American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout the course of her life; nonetheless, through the help of friends and
In most cultures, boys and girls are treated very differently. Despite the differences of gender, upbringing creates gender behavior, including aggression and gentility; societal stereotypes of gender, and most importantly, gender-based discrimination.
Alice Walker's The Color Purple is an excellent account of the life of poor black women who must suffer not only social ostracism due to gender and skin color but also women who suffer greatly at the hands of black men. This is true in terms of infidelity, physical and verbal abuse, and sexual abuse.
The movie The Color Purple shows an intercultural perspective using concepts like racism, stereotypes, socialized cultures and the power distance between men and women. In this era, women, in general, were socialized into the cultural norms of the times. There was very high power distance between males and females and black women were specifically mistreated not only by the member of other races but also by men from their race. Women
Gender inequality was a big issue during the early 1900s, and especially for the African American women because some “Africa American women were used as sex slaves or just slaves in generally” (Karpowitz). These women were treated badly even if it was from their dad or their "husband"/owners, but at the end of the day they knew only one person who these women can trust which is God. In Alice Walker’s novel, she shows and expresses how women will have bad times or bumps on the road, but if they keep going towards their dream they will succeed. Walker also showed how women did not have a voice to stand up for themselves but later in their life they started getting together to fight back for their rights. In The Color Purple, Alice Walker demonstrates gender inequality in the lives of African Americans in the early 1900s.
Alice Walker wrote ‘The Color Purple’ in order to capture and highlight the hardship and bitterness African-American women experienced in the early 1900s. She demonstrates the emotional, physical and spiritual revolution of an abused black girl into an independent, strong woman. The novel largely focuses on the role of male domination and its resulting frustrations and black women’s struggle for independence. The protagonist, Celie’s, gain of an independent identity, away from her family, friends, work, and love life, forms the plot of the novel.
When The Color Purple is viewed through the gender/feminist lens, the traditional ways society understands men and women is dramatically altered. Alice Walker defies gender norms with her emphasis on the fact that gender and sexuality are not always as simple as society typically thought. By creating characters that challenge gender stereotypes and break out of the norms of society, she creates a book that dissolves gender barriers. With her use of strong, unique characters, Alice is able to change the way people viewed women and men. Characters like Shug Avery and Harpo defy the gender roles expected of them, and influence those around them to change their roles in society as well. While there are characters that reflect gender norms,
Gender roles are an important factor in the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Walter uses his masculinity as a reason for him to have a better job, to expect Mama to let him have the insurance check (and to truly let him be the head of the house), and to have Ruth support him. He is also under a lot of pressure because he is the only male adult in the family. Mama, Ruth, and Beneatha show different stages of female gender roles in society. Beneatha is very independent and feels that she does not need to marry and can fulfill a life on her own, while Mama believes that a woman’s role is support for her husband.
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
Real Lives of Most Men." He says to a friend of his "This must be a
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
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.