Personal Notes and Analysis
Author's Bio
Alice Walker was born on February
9, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia, as the final child in a family of eight children. Her parents struggled to support the large
family as sharecroppers in a time of racism and prejudice. Playing with her brothers as an
eight-year-old girl, Walker’s brother hit her accidentally hit her in the eye
with a BB gun pellet. The injury had a
significant impact on Walker: she lost partial vision in her right eye and was
unsure if she would lose vision in the other eye. In addition to the loss of vision, Walker’s
injury left her with a physical scar; the disfigurement left her unconfident
and secluded. She began doing poorly in
school until at age fourteen she had surgery to correct the scar. Her physical transformation led Walker to
perform better in school and become more outspoken.
In
1961 Walker started at Spelman College in Atlanta, which was a historically
Black institution. It was during this
period when she first became involved with the civil rights movement, attending
various protests, demonstrations, and lectures, including Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech.
After two years, she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York,
a college in which only a few African Americans attended at the time. During her time as a student at Sarah
Lawrence, Walker traveled to Africa for a summer as an exchange student. During Walker’s senior year in college, she
discovered that she was pregnant. Unsure
what to do, she contemplated committing suicide and eventually obtained an abortion. Shortly after graduation, her first published
short story, “To Hell with Dying”, and her first published volume of poetry, Once:
Poems, were released.
In
the early 1970’s Walker’s work at several colleges exposed her to the writing
of Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston’s work
significantly affected Walker’s life and her writing. She identified with the important female
African American, in a time when there were few successful black women
writers. Walker’s first two novels, The
Third Life of Grange Copeland and Meridian, received critical
praise, as did her poems and short stories, but she is most well known for The
Color Purple. The novel was awarded
both the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award. The 1985 Steven Spielberg film version of the
novel was also highly praised.
Since
The Color Purple, Walker has continued to write novels, short stories,
and collections of poetry, such as the novels The Temple of My Familiar
and Possessing the Secret Joy.
Her work continues to explore issues of sexism and racism that black
women face both in America and Africa.
Source:
Major Themes
Theme 1Strong female relationship
Female strong relationship in the novel has brought in love, strength and the will to survive of women in a world filled with traditional gender inequality. The strong sister relationship between Celie and Nettie has gave Celie the strength and will to continue surviving in order to meet Nettie as they were separated in distance. Celie bonds with Shug is another example of strong female relationship shown throughout the novel. Shug has made Celie felt loved which Celie has never got it from her mother, step-father, husband or anyone else except her sister and as the story expands, she is loved by Shug, her husband’s lover.
Theme 2
Sexism
Women are discriminated in the novel because they are thought to be less educated, less power and that they should stay at home doing house chores. Some women are being abused and mistreated in the novel. Other than that, some men think that they have power over women. This is shown when Celie was being forced to married Albert by her step-father who raped and physically abused her. Albert exerts power over Celie, made her do everything and what the children asked for. Albert also beats her when he is not happy. Harpo is also another example, he hits Sofia under his father’s and Celie’s influence as Celie was jealous of Sofia’s strength and boldness to fight back.
Lens
GenderGender discrimination is found throughout the novel. Women are seen as someone who has less influence in the society. They are discriminated and are given less rights in the society. As the plot develops, it is seen that there are females who break the traditional males and females gender roles. Sofia for example, has the courage to fight for her rights and leave her husband, Harpo as he beats her. Shug is another example in this novel who breaks the traditional gender roles. She goes around singing and building her own career without the help and control of a male.
Characters
Celie
Fearful
In the first few letters, Celie did not dare to let anyone
know about her troubles. She was being raped by who she call ‘Pa’ and
physically abused by him. Nobody cares about her.
Protective
Celie is protective towards her younger sister Nettie. She
protects her sister from being the next victim of their step-father. When Celie
was married to Albert, she let Nettie to stay at her house when Nettie ran away
from home.
Hardworking and
Patient
She does all the chores and take care of Albert’s children
like her own. She is remain patient with Albert’s children although they were
demanding and treated her badly.
Kind and innovative
She sew different pants according to people’s comfort and
needs for free to her friends. She then opens up her own business, sewing pants
and clothes. Shug Avery
Bold
She was brave to live her own life in a society where women is discriminated. She did not care about the oppression and live her life by singing songs in pubs. She travels a lot and makes money through her singings.
Compassionate
Shug is actually warm and compassionate at heart. When Shug falls ill, she not only appreciates, but also reciprocates the care and attention Celie lavishes upon her.
Quotes
1) Well, next time you come you can look at her. She ugly. Don't even look like she kin to Nettie. But she'll make the better wife. She ain't smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own. But she can work like a man. (10)
Celie was discriminated with words by her step-father. This shows a strong gender discrimination. Celie's step-father believe male dominance over female as he describes her as
"she can work like a man". He even said that Celie is ugly and not smart.
2) Nettie here with us. She run way from home. She say she hate to leave our stepma, but she had to git out, maybe fine help for the other little ones. (18)
Nettie has left home due to the unfair treatment received by their step-father. Female is not well treated in their family. Celie has been sexually harassed and raped by her step-father many times when she was at home. Nettie was protected by those assaults and she now manage to run away from home.
3) She go with me in the store. I think what color Shug Avery would wear. She like a queen to me so I say to Kate, Somethin purple, maybe little red in it too. But us look an look and no purple. Plenty red but she say, Naw, he won't want to pay for red. Too happy lookin. We got choice of brown, maroon or
navy blue. I say blue. (21)
Celie is getting herself a dress where she thinks of Shug Avery and she looked up to her although she has not seen her or even know her. Celie placed Shug at an important place in her heart since the beginning. This shows the usage of foreshadowing as in the end of the story, Shug did play an important role in Celie's life. And the color purple is depicted here. The color that Celie thinks Shug will like and the name of the book.
4) Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. ___ say, Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn. All women good for? he don't finish. (23)
This line reads that Albert thinks that women are useless and weak. He thinks that he is in power and dominance that he can beat up his wife as he wishes. There are not any rights respected here due to the traditional view on gender role.
5) He tell me, Wash this. Iron that. Look for this. Look for that. Find this. Find that. He groan over holes in his sock. (25)
Albert oders Celie around as though she is his house maid. He does not care about Celie at all.
Celie's marriage with him was forced by Celie's step-father. This shows that women are not respected at all.
6) She say, What I need to marry Harpo for? He still living here with you. What food and clothes he git, you buy. (32)
Sofia is seen as a strong girl throughout the story. She showed courage in a woman in a society that gender discrimination plays a major role. She is not afraid of taking care her baby her own and she wants a husband that can take care of himself first.
7) Harpo want to know what to do to make Sofia! mind. He sit out on the porch with Mr. ---. He say, I tell her one thing, she do another. Never do what I say. Always backtalk. (35)
Sofia shows her inner strength and her strong character here. She has never let herself be under the control of man.
8) She say, All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men. But I never thought I'd have to fight in my own house. She let out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. (39)
Sofia's life is full of violence. She has to fight with her male family members in order to stay alive. As stated, "a girl child ain't safe in a family of men", this shows the great amount gender inequalities brought up alone in a family. Traditional view on women is clearly seen in the society of rural Georgia.
9) You ought to bash Mr. --- head open, she say. Think bout heaven later. (40)
Sofia thinks that women should be standing up for themselves, do not let them be under the control of men. She thinks that women should be brave as she says "think bout heaven later".
10) Five days later I look way off up the road and see the wagon coming back.' It got sort of a canopy over it now, made out of old blankets or something. My heart begin to beat like furry, and the first thing I try to do is change my dress. (43)
Although Albert beats her up, Celie wants to impress Albert and get his attention back to her in-front of another woman's presence. Or she might want to just impress Shug more.
11) I want her to do what I say, like you do for Pa. (60)
Harpo wants to be in-charge over Sofia. He wants her to listen to him and do what he asked to. This shows the arrogance of men and the obvious traditional gender roles played in the society.
12) First time somebody made something and name it after me. (70)
Shug had made a song and named it after Celie. Celie is touched by her act. This is shows that women are capable in producing songs and work too. Shug is an example of a woman that goes against the norms in the society.
13) Only white people can ride in the beds and use the restaurant. And they have different toilets from
colored. (121)
Racism is shown here. African- American are being treated unjustly. Even public facilities are separated by colors. Whites have different toilets from the colored. This is ridiculous as I do not see why they cannot share toilets. Discrimination is done to the African-American here. Furthermore, class disparity is shown here. only whites which are of higher class can ride in the beds on trains and use the restaurants
14) The Olinka do not believe girls should be educated. (140)
There are even women who thinks that girls do not need to be educated. The Olinkas for example, they live in a small village and do not think that girls should be educated. This shows how traditional view on gender roles have influence some women out there.
15)They don't even look at women when women are speaking. They look at the ground and bend their heads toward the ground. (146)
Men in the Olinka village do not look at women when women are talking. This indirectly discriminates women as they do not respect women. Women are also god's creation, they are to be treated equally as a human. There should not be a difference in all human.
16) You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need. (180)
Celie finally had the guts to talk back to Albert after all the years she has been married to him. She is planning to leave the house with Shug. Gender inequalities has brought her to this last action- to leave home.
17) I sit in the dining room making pants after pants. I got pants now in every color and size under the sun. (191)
This shows that female is able to work themselves and earn themselves a living too. Celie is able to make a living through sewing and her innovations.
18) Women weaker, he say. People think they weaker, say they weaker. (196)
Harpo said that women are being deemed as weaker by everyone and he believe in that too. This shows obvious patriarchy system in the society.
19) You know Shug will fight, he say. Just like Sofia. She bound to live her life and be herself no matter what. (244)
Albert thinks that Shug and Sofia are different from other women. They are stronger and braver. This portrays that there are inner strength that is different in every women.
20) The first man that was white. Not the first man. They say nobody so crazy they think they can say who was the first man. But everybody notice the first white man cause he was white. (247)
This is an interesting idea about racism. Celie stated that the Africans think that the first man is not black. Adam is said to be the first man because he is a white and noticeable. They truly think that the whites are of the black peoples children.
21) The more I wonder, he say, the more I love. (256)
Albert is finally awake from the world of male dominance and violence. He has now opened up his mind and he thinks that the more he wonder (care) the more he love, and people do actually love him back.
22) When Nettie's foot come down on the porch I almost die. I stand swaying, tween Albert and Shug. (260)
Reunion with Nettie after more than 40 years. Celie was too happy to see her sister back home. They finally got back together after all the hardships they both have been through.
Carrying the double burden in life for their gender and race, the African-American women in The Color Purple learn to define themselves separately from their husbands; in telling her own story through the letters, Celie’s dialect and unique experience she endures until she meets Shug. Singing,
sewing, quilting, story-telling and letter-writing each act as reflection for
the unique experiences of Celie and the other women in her life. These creative strengths stand in opposition
to the distorted images of women and African-Americans created through the propaganda and the burdens
placed upon women from men.
7) Harpo want to know what to do to make Sofia! mind. He sit out on the porch with Mr. ---. He say, I tell her one thing, she do another. Never do what I say. Always backtalk. (35)
Sofia shows her inner strength and her strong character here. She has never let herself be under the control of man.
8) She say, All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men. But I never thought I'd have to fight in my own house. She let out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. (39)
Sofia's life is full of violence. She has to fight with her male family members in order to stay alive. As stated, "a girl child ain't safe in a family of men", this shows the great amount gender inequalities brought up alone in a family. Traditional view on women is clearly seen in the society of rural Georgia.
9) You ought to bash Mr. --- head open, she say. Think bout heaven later. (40)
Sofia thinks that women should be standing up for themselves, do not let them be under the control of men. She thinks that women should be brave as she says "think bout heaven later".
10) Five days later I look way off up the road and see the wagon coming back.' It got sort of a canopy over it now, made out of old blankets or something. My heart begin to beat like furry, and the first thing I try to do is change my dress. (43)
Although Albert beats her up, Celie wants to impress Albert and get his attention back to her in-front of another woman's presence. Or she might want to just impress Shug more.
11) I want her to do what I say, like you do for Pa. (60)
Harpo wants to be in-charge over Sofia. He wants her to listen to him and do what he asked to. This shows the arrogance of men and the obvious traditional gender roles played in the society.
12) First time somebody made something and name it after me. (70)
Shug had made a song and named it after Celie. Celie is touched by her act. This is shows that women are capable in producing songs and work too. Shug is an example of a woman that goes against the norms in the society.
13) Only white people can ride in the beds and use the restaurant. And they have different toilets from
colored. (121)
Racism is shown here. African- American are being treated unjustly. Even public facilities are separated by colors. Whites have different toilets from the colored. This is ridiculous as I do not see why they cannot share toilets. Discrimination is done to the African-American here. Furthermore, class disparity is shown here. only whites which are of higher class can ride in the beds on trains and use the restaurants
14) The Olinka do not believe girls should be educated. (140)
There are even women who thinks that girls do not need to be educated. The Olinkas for example, they live in a small village and do not think that girls should be educated. This shows how traditional view on gender roles have influence some women out there.
15)They don't even look at women when women are speaking. They look at the ground and bend their heads toward the ground. (146)
Men in the Olinka village do not look at women when women are talking. This indirectly discriminates women as they do not respect women. Women are also god's creation, they are to be treated equally as a human. There should not be a difference in all human.
16) You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need. (180)
Celie finally had the guts to talk back to Albert after all the years she has been married to him. She is planning to leave the house with Shug. Gender inequalities has brought her to this last action- to leave home.
17) I sit in the dining room making pants after pants. I got pants now in every color and size under the sun. (191)
This shows that female is able to work themselves and earn themselves a living too. Celie is able to make a living through sewing and her innovations.
18) Women weaker, he say. People think they weaker, say they weaker. (196)
Harpo said that women are being deemed as weaker by everyone and he believe in that too. This shows obvious patriarchy system in the society.
19) You know Shug will fight, he say. Just like Sofia. She bound to live her life and be herself no matter what. (244)
Albert thinks that Shug and Sofia are different from other women. They are stronger and braver. This portrays that there are inner strength that is different in every women.
20) The first man that was white. Not the first man. They say nobody so crazy they think they can say who was the first man. But everybody notice the first white man cause he was white. (247)
This is an interesting idea about racism. Celie stated that the Africans think that the first man is not black. Adam is said to be the first man because he is a white and noticeable. They truly think that the whites are of the black peoples children.
21) The more I wonder, he say, the more I love. (256)
Albert is finally awake from the world of male dominance and violence. He has now opened up his mind and he thinks that the more he wonder (care) the more he love, and people do actually love him back.
22) When Nettie's foot come down on the porch I almost die. I stand swaying, tween Albert and Shug. (260)
Reunion with Nettie after more than 40 years. Celie was too happy to see her sister back home. They finally got back together after all the hardships they both have been through.
Personal analysis
Men in the rural Georgia are seen as violent. They beat up women, orders them around and in Celie's case rape. Women are not objects, women have rights like all other men do. But, men in the Georgia society has violate those rights.
Celie was able to free herself from her husband's
repressive control. Bolstered by her contacts with other women and by her
affection for her younger sister, Nettie. Celie eventually leaves Albert and moves to
Memphis, where she starts a business designing and making clothes.
This shows that women can earn themselves a living too. They do not need to depend on men to do live. All they need is some skills and education. To be literate is the only way to defeat men in all sectors, making them believe that women are strong too.
Prominent male dominance is shown. There are women present in the story that strongly oppose this theory such as Shug and Sofia who are seen stronger and bolder than other women in the story. Celie grown in experience, her observations
become sharper and more informed by Nettie's letters of the outside world. She also has became like Shug and Sofia who can live without a man's company.
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