Essay The Color Purple

• May believe that accomplishment of one goal or activity fulfills obligations to minority communities; may engage in token hiring practices.

In ultimately finding herself at the end of the novel, Celie had to overcome the internal prejudices against herself. With the use of Shug Avery in the novel, Walker displays the hardships Celie must face with her new found sexuality. Because this relationship uses different and new feelings it “evokes so profound an erotic awakening that Celie believes she was "still a virgin" prior to it” (Hankinson). When Celie begins to have feelings for Shug, they start out innocent and then become more serious. She describes a night that they spent together when she says, “Me and Shug sound asleep. Her back to me, my arms round her waist” (Walker 116). Celie begins to allow her feelings with Shug to become reality and shows that she does not have the shy personality that everyone thinks she does. Celie breaks out of her inner prejudices again when she confides in her sister, Nettie. Celie begins to yell at the dinner table one night when she could no longer take

The Color Purple by Alice Walker is the story of a poor black woman living in the south between World War 1 and World War 2. This was at a time when, although slavery had ended,many women were still virtually in bondage, and had to put up with many conditions that was reminiscent of the days of slavery. The problem was that they had to endure being treated like an inferior being by their own families sometimes, as well as from the white people that lived there. It was a life that was filled with misery for many black women, and they felt helpless to do anything about their situations.

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.

Celie was always use to being under a man’s rule and she never fought back. When Celie meets Shug, she starts to see the world in a different light. Shug opened Celie’s eyes to how her life could be if she would just stand up for herself. It took Celie a long time to fight for herself. But Shug made sure Mr. ____ would treat Celie right even if Shug wasn’t there.

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

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.

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

Celie and the women surrounding her struggle for bondage. Celie finds a bond with many females. Walker introduces the hint of Celie's sexual attraction to women in church. Afraid of men because of the cruel treatment by her father, Celie turns more and more towards the company of women, who represent love, warmth, and feelings of solidarity to her. Celie affirms her sexual identity in her relationship with Shug Avery. For now, it is manifested merely as what men cannot offer.

Later on being sold to Mr. she still let herself be pushed around without any complaint as though she just figured out it’s the way her life is going to be. With Mr’s. children disobeying her command she feels she can never be as welcomed as his wife and she is simply his rag doll being ready to use her to please his needs. If only Celie defended herself against the brutal beatings and the harassments from her father and Mr. she would have a considerate outcoming. As said in the story Shug was that person to not let men go at her without a fight as well as Sofia.

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.

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.

One day, Celie’s husband’s ill ex-lover, Shug, comes to live with them. In the beginning, Shug is anything but nice to Celie, making her do everything for her and talking badly to her. As time goes on, Celie and Shug become closer as Celie cares for her. They compare their experiences that they had with Albert, and Shug teaches her things about her body and sex. Shug and Celie grow even closer, and when Shug returns to visit she discovers Nettie’s letters that Albert was hiding. They then tell him that Celie is moving back to Memphis with Shug and her husband Grady. From the letters, Celie learns that her sister is alive as a missionary in Africa. Soon, Celie makes a business for herself designing pants and selling them. Eventually, Celie finds out the man who raped her was her stepfather and not her biological one. Soon after, he dies, leaving Celie and Nettie with the house, land, and store he owned. Shug and Celie’s relationship goes on to mostly end and she moves into the house she inherited to prepare it for her sister’s return. During this time she becomes good friends with her “husband”, but still feels no attraction to

Growing up Celie was taught that men are the ones that take control of everything. She feels that she has to listen to her dad and let her dad take control of her decisions. Celie isn’t able to express who she truly is or who she wants to be. Unlike Sophia and Shug they were taught that they are their own people and have the freedom to express who they are. Celie looks up to Shug who is confident. “ I think what color Shug Avery would wear. She like a queen to me…” It is clear that Celie wants to be like Shug, and follow her steps in life.

The link between Celie and Shug creates power and strong will, but when the two are separated they fall victim to anything troubling that comes their way. For example, before shug enters into Celie’s life, Albert, Celie’s husband beats and rapes her repeatedly. He also makes her work on the fields till she passes out, and he speaks of Celie as an inferior human being compared to him saying “she ugly. Don't even look like she kin to Nettie. But she'll make the better wife. She aint smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own.” (18). Although shug doesn’t have to deal with a man beating her or forcing her to do unwanted things, she becomes very sick, likely due to a sexually transmitted disease. Further more, “nobody in...town want to take the