Comment On Celies Growth From Inferiority To Independence In The Color Purple

Alice Walker, the author of Pulitzer Prize-winner The Color Purple, was one of themost notable and eminent modern black women writers. Alice Walker was awarded theNational Book Critics Circle Award and the American Book Award for Fiction owing tothe publication of The Color Purple, her most noted and famous novel which earnedAlice Walker the reputation from all over the world.Due to growing up in the period of slavery when black women had the lowest statusboth in family and in the society and were subjected to men’s discrimination, AliceWalker had a deep understanding of the fate of black women. The main subject of herliterary works concerns about the problems of black women. She depicts not only thelove and hatred for black women, but also their search of right and identity. She alsointroduces the new term “womanism”.The thesis makes an analysis on how the protagonist Celie stepped out frominferiority, recovered her consciousness and eventually achieved her economic, spiritualand social independence from the perspective of Alice Walker’s womanism. The thesisnot only establishes a new woman image but also calls for women from all over theworld to pursue their economic, spiritual and social independence. The thesis iscomposed of three parts.The first part is the introduction which gives a brief portrayal of Alice Walker, hernovels, the compliment and criticism at domestic and overseas and womanism.The second part is the main body of this thesis, which is composed of threechapters.Chapter I depicts the course of Celie’s inferiority which mainly results from doubleoppression brought by her stepfather and her husband, lack of family love and restrictionof herself. She is not only constantly raped and beat by her step-father, but alsocontinually attacked and humiliated. In addition, the lack of love of family members inearly times leads to Celia’s numbness and a sense of inferiority. Celia’s mother was deadwhen Celie was young, so she seldom gained love from her mother. When Celie’sstep-father, Albert, was tired of Celie, he throwed Celie into another deep abyss-Mr._’shome, where nobody loved her. Her husband regarded her as a sexual entertainment;Mr._’s children treated her as a slave whose function is to meet their demands. No matter how cruel Mr._and his children treated her, she still keeped silent and restrained herself.She saw herself as a tree without any voice.Chapter II describes the course of Celie’s awakening. Celie changed from obedienceto resistance and gained courage to rebel against inequality through assistance ofsisterhood and the power of paragon. She began to write to God and poured her pains toGod. By writing to God, she detected her sufferings and oppression. After realization ofGod’s helplessness, she turned to write to Nettie. By writing to Nettie, she got to knowher origin which gave her consciousness to regain her dignity. Additionally, theassistance of sisterhood played a significant role in Celie’s awakening. Celie’ssister-Nettie taught her in all aspects and encouraged her to strive for her freedom, herdaughter-in-law Sofia made Celie realize her right as a human being, and Sofia’sunyielding spirit exerted a great influence on Celie; Shug, her husband’s lover, gaveCelie not only psychological support, but also financial assistance. Shug was the onlyperson who was willing to listen to Celie’s pains and who also was the only person thatmade Celie feel love. Additionally, she lent Celie money and helped Celie open her owncorporation. The three persons who lived in Celie’s life successfully aided Celie inregaining her awareness.Chapter III illustrates how Celie accomplished her independence in economic,spiritual and social aspects. Firstly, she gained her economic independence by utilizingher own talents: such as making pants and quilting. She also earned her house throughher own efforts. Secondly, she was brave enough to leave home to pursue her career andher new understanding of God which got rid of her spiritual bondage. Thirdly, shechanged her relationship with men and won men’s respect and regained equality withmen.The third part is the conclusion, which points out the significance of this thesis andexposes that only when women achieve independence in economic, spiritual and socialaspects, can they have the equality with men, and eventually emancipate themselves fromoppression.