A Womanist Study Of Black Male Images In The Color Purple

Alice Walker is one of the most influential black women writers in the contemporary American literary world. Her masterpiece The Color Purple has attracted great focus of the literary circles since its publication and won her the1983Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Reward, as well as a nomination for a1982National Book Critics Circle Award. Since The Color Purple attracts most scholars and critics’ interest, so a lot of essays are written to voice their different understanding on it. They mainly focus on women’s growth, women’s relationship and women’s transformation.However, the major success of this novel lies not only in its vivid portrayal of black women’s transformation, but more importantly in the possibility and necessity of black men’s change for the fulfilment of the wholeness of black world in a harmonious way which is the core of womanism, explored by Walker to differentiate from the feminism. Walker points out a womanist not only loves women and women’s culture, but also commits to the survival and wholeness of entire people, including male and female. Thus, the change and growth of black men become an indispensable part for the fulfillment of womanism. Besides, women’s growth and their forgiveness and love which are the key points for the realization of men’s change help those men accelerate their spiritual survival.The thesis consists of four parts:The first chapter introduces Walker’s literary achievements and The Color Purple. Chapter two mainly analyzes Albert who grows from a cold and brutal husband into a passionate and patient companion who shares co-sewing with his wife. Chapter three describes Harpo, Albert’s son, who turns from a passive victim of patriarchal domination into a gentle husband that is keen on doing housework. The last chapter is conclusion. It concludes that the men’s change and growth are the integrating part for the unity of the black community.This thesis shackles the previous shutters on the women’s growth, woman-bonding and lesbian relationship, making its attempt to demonstrate the change and growth of two main male characters so as to commit to the survival and wholeness of black community. What’s more, this paper also points out there is a long way to realize the unity of black world.