| Afro-American writers have made great contributions to American literature in the twentieth century. Afro-American literature as an indispensable part of American literature and culture is still on its way from margin to center. As the product of feminism and the Black Liberation Movement in America, black feminist literature began in the early seventies of the twentieth century. Some important contributors have been managing to express black women's consciousness and their cultural tradition in different ways. Ever since the theme of black women's spiritual development appears repeatedly in black women writers'creations. Alice Walker is no doubt one of the most remarkable and influential Afro-American writers in the contemporary American literary canon. Walker coins"womanism", a theory different from feminism advocated by white women critics. She puts forward a more comprehensive concept of black women's identity in terms of the impact of race, sex and class. Her masterpiece The Color Purple depicts black women's quest for identity and self-autonomy in the male-dominating patriarchal society. It also reflects the writer's profound love for black culture and tradition. At the same time, Walker pays more attention to sexism than racism by focusing on black women's suffering in the black community. Owing to the unique perspective and neoteric writing techniques employed in the novel, Walker won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1983.This thesis attempts to analyze black women's growth in The Color Purple by applying"womanist"theory from a cultural perspective. It takes a look at identities, beliefs, and emotions of black women, tries to expose their oppression within the patriarchal and racial system and brings their desires for freedom, spirituality and creativity to light. Moreover, the present thesis intends to show how black women unite and how they consequently achieve success in fighting against black men. Black women can liberate themselves from the strength and wisdom of sisterhood and black culture. Meanwhile, black men have to give up their patriarchal ideas and come to reconciliation with black women by transforming themselves into their partners. This thesis focuses more on black women's resistance to the existing bondage and their effort into spiritual healing by referring to black culture and women's culture. The analysis is to make an integration of feminist study and cultural study, hoping to lead feminist literary study to a new field and bring cultural study into the eyeshot of feminists.In addition to the introduction and conclusion parts, the thesis is divided into three chapters based on the main thread of the novel."Introduction"offers necessary background information of Alice Walker and The Color Purple. It reviews the studies on Walker and the novel, introduces"womanist"theory, and makes clear the purpose and the theoretical basis of this research. Chapter One concentrates on black women's oppression in the context of sexism, racism and colonialism, which together push black women into the abyss of misery. It intends to reveal the causes of black women's suffering and points out further that black women's oppression is universal. Chapter Two focuses on black women's awareness of challenge and resistance. By changing beliefs, fighting for identity and establishing women's enterprise, black women start to rebel and call for their independence and to challenge the patriarchal system. Chapter Three explores black women's healing process and offers the solution to women's emancipation. With the help of sisterhood, black women find their dignity and social position in their creative work and they eventually live harmoniously with black men."Conclusion"summarizes the main points the preceding parts of the thesis have discussed and brings out the implication of the study itself. It also makes clear the limitations of this thesis and draws attention to the possible researches that can be made from other perspectives.
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