Black Women's Search For Self-identity

This thesis analyzes the theme of Alice Walker's most distinguished novel The Color Purple from the theoretical perspective of black feminist criticism, concluding that the theme expressed by Alice Walker in this novel is black women's search for self-identity under racial and sexual oppressions. The thesis consists of three parts. Part One introduces Alice Walker's life story, writing experiences; critical reviews on Alice and The Color Purple, and black feminist literary criticism, mainly the two basic critical principles proposed by Barbara Smith: first, it should be a political criticism involving racial and sexual politics; second, a black feminist critic should attach great importance to black women's experience. Based on the two basic principles proposed by Barbara Smith for black feminist criticism to follow. Part Two mainly focuses on the analysis of the theme of the novel, which is illustrated in two points. The first point is an examination of black women's political condition and state of life under the double oppression, which is further discussed from racial oppression and sexual oppression upon black women; the second point focuses on black women's search for self-identity, which is subdivided into two aspects: black women's search for their cultural identity in a large historical context (because possessing black women's own culture and tradition is a powerful resistance to racial and sexual discriminations), and their search for the integrity of self as a wonder of creation with worth and dignity (through the struggle from awakening to revolting, from attainment of independence in spirituality and economy to establishment of a new relationship with black men). Part Three summaries the contents mentioned above and concludes that in searching for their own culture and tradition and the integrity of self, black women in The Color Purple have finally found their identity, achieved the equality of men and women, and obtained independence and autonomy. Meanwhile, the thesis illustrates that Alice Walker's true intention to write this novel is to point out a bright way for the freedom and liberation of black women as well as women all over the world.