In the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Color Purple, there is one constant occurrence throughout this fictional masterpiece: abuse. The protagonist, Celie, endures chronic physical, emotional, mental, verbal, and sexual abuse almost her entire life. Celie's constant endurance of multiple types of abuse displays the damaging physical and psychological effects of the average African-American woman in the early 1900s. Alice Walker tells the miraculous story of a young African-American woman's survival in addition to the narrator's journey to discover her individuality through romantic and platonic relationships during a time of racial segregation and female oppression. The first person Celie ever loved was her younger sister, Nettie. Celie …show more content…
Celie's infatuation with The Queen Honeybee forms just from a portrait of the poised performer. Based on Celie's perception of Shug alone gives her confidence to purchase bright colored clothes such as purple and red and attempt to enjoy sexual intercourse with Albert.Celie's first sight is of an ill and demenished Shug Avery, but Celie can only admire her beauty. ''First time somebody made something and name it after me'' (pg.73,Celie) Shug's generousity and compassion towards Celie makes her feel her humanity and adoration for another person. Shug is the first person that Celie verbally confides in. Celie expresses her emotions to Shug saying that ''Nobody ever love me'' (pg.112) in which Shug replies ''I love you, Miss Celie.'' (pg.113) This conversation allows Celie to be emotionally vulnerable therefore being able to heal from the emotional abuse. Celie's romantic pursuit of Shug introduces her to a new emotion: jealousy. ''He love looking at Shug. I love looking at Shug. But Shug don't love looking at one of us. Him.'' (pg.73, Celie) Celie's envy of Albert's relationship with Shug infuriates her. When Shug marries Grady, Celie is resentful an distant towards him. Every sexual encounter Celie has had has been involuntary and unwanted. Celie discovers her sexuality and sexual desire in Shug's presence and in her own thoughts about Shug. Shug invites Celie to live with her in her …show more content…
From the moment Celie arrives on his property to the moment she leaves, Albert abuses her. Celie has endured multiple types of abuse in numerous seperate occasions from this man alone. When Celie moves to Memphis and the condition of Albert and his property diminshes is when he regrets his actions. Albert becomes religous and independent in his household in an attempt to improve himself, and he does. Celie was forced to marry him but after his transformation he asks Celie to marry him instead of demanding marraige. Albert's newly found religion has taught him to ask instead to demand and persecute. Shug's departure to be a traveling talent unites Albert and Celie because of their yearning for The Queen Honeybee's return and their love for her. While Shug is gone Celie teaches Albert how to sew and they begin to form a friendship. ''If you know your heart sorry, that mean it not quite as spoilt as you think'' (pg.282,Celie) Celie saying this signifies that she has forgiven Albert and that the abuse she endured from him will be easier to heal and begin a new found happiness with herself, Albert, Shug, Nettie, Adam, Olivia, Tashi, and Samuel. Her
While the pair are caught up in the moment of the sweet sound, the audience begins to understand the depth of Shug and Celie’s relationship. Celie cares about Shug so much because she is the first person to show her love and care since she was taken away from her.
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
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.
Celie begins the novel as a passive, quiet young girl, bewildered by her own pregnancy, by Pa’s sexual assault, and by Mr. _____’s ill-treatment of her. After meeting Shug and seeing her sister run away, Celie develops practical skills and begins to transform into this “new” woman. She
“My heart broke. Shug love somebody else. ”(Walker,2014: 223) When Celie hears the news that Shug has fully recovered and has now decided to move on with her life, she tells Shug Mr. Albert beats her when she’s not around. Thinking back to how dull her life was and having no joy was a memory that came to mind, when she heard the news. She had to think of something immediately to persuade her to stay longer.
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.
she become so used to not fighting back or even crying. Celie was always a
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.
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 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).
Although Shug had these traits, she first came off as an arrogant, self-centered blues singer who eventually not only helped Celie, but who Celie helped as well. “You sho is ugly,” (Walker, 46). Celie was always being reminded for being ugly compared to her younger, beautiful, educated, and smart sister. After Celie and Shug officially meet, they develop a friendship which grew into Shug teaching Celie about love and self-esteem. Shug takes notice that Celie does not have any sexual desire towards her husband.
Shug is an admirable woman because of her ability to love others. She tells Celie, 'If you was my wife, I'd cover you with kisses instead of licks and work hard for you too,'; and later says, 'I love you, Miss Celie.'; (118). Here Celie realizes that she
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.
I would not have thought that Shug and Celie would be drawn towards each other. This makes me think that since Celie is used to not being loved, and had no recognition of self confidence, that Shug expressed this type of comfort. I believe the author of this book did not write to have readers feel sympathy, but to announce the hope that was presented through the letters addressed to God, that explained in the shortest possible ways the trials and tribulations took a toll on Celie and Nettie.