On The Pursuit Of Identity In Alice Walker's The Color Purple

Since the late 1970s, with its unique perspective and thought-provoking theories and practice, the African-American literature has not only opened a new field for American literature and culture, but also has formed some cutting-edge thoughts and theories. The emergence and development of the black feminist literature has a far-reaching significance:it has greatly changed people's way of thinking, deepened people's understanding of both feminist literature and the necessity of exploring the way to realize the harmony of black men and women. Alice Walker is one of the most prominent black writers in the contemporary American literature. Her novel The Color Purple won great popularity among readers and literary critics after its publication in 1982. Alice Walker was nominated the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award in 1983, which established Walker's irreplaceable position in American literature. In 1985, The Color Purple was successfully adapted into a drama film by Steven Spielberg, which aroused a strong response.As Alice Walker's masterpiece, The Color Purple gave a vivid description of the black women living under racial and sexual oppression. In the novel, Walker depicted her protagonist Celie's growing process—from numbness to awakening, from silence to rebellion, from being oppressed to actively striving, and at length, Celie recognized her identity and reconstructed it. The novel attached great importance to the sisterhood and the precious African legacy, which empower black women to recognize and respect themselves, and finally realize the wholeness of their individuality.With an ultimate goal of realizing the harmony between men and women, the novel emphasizes the possibility of individual development, the sisterhood among women, and it also reflects the author's love for African traditions. portrayal of some black men in the novel aroused strong disapproval and controversy from many male critics. Owing to the unique perspective of womanist, neoteric writing technique, and the exploration of the way of realizing the harmony of black men and women, the novel is of lasting significance.After the introduction of the historical and social background of The Color Purple, the thesis systematically analyzes the journey of womanist characters' striving for self-identity. In the novel Walker pointed out an ideal way for black women to resist the double oppressions, reconstruct their identity and realize the harmony between black men and women. Through the protagonist's successful transformation from a poor, oppressed, fragmented and silent black woman into a womanist with new self-image, self-esteem and individuality, Alice Walker encouraged all black women to stand up for themselves to fight against the oppressions imposed on them, strive to construct a new identity they deserve and form an ideal relationship with black men. The Color Purple is of lasting significance in contributing to the development and liberation of the black women.