Discipline And Resistance: An Interpretation Of The Color Purple From The Perspective Of Foucault’s Power Theory

This thesis attempts to study The Color Purple, the masterpiece of Alice Walker(1944—) from the perspective of Michel Foucault’s power theory. According to Foucault, disciplinary power is a specific technique of power, whose aim is to achieve one party’s control over the ot her through a series of disciplinary techniques. Living under the control of disciplinary power, people resist power continually, and pursue an aesthetic way of existence as well as a happy life. This thesis intends to discuss the following questions: How does disciplinary pow er operate in this society? How does disciplinary power affect th e life of black females under the cont rol of disciplinary power? How do black females resist the disciplinary power?This thesis explores the operation of disciplinary power from hierarchical observation, normalizing judgment and ex amination in order to discuss how disciplinary power operations in this society firstly and interpret the living condition of black females under the control of disciplinary power. At the same time, this thesis demonstrates the effects of disciplinary pow er on the black fem ales and reveals that under the discipline and surveillance of power, black females have lost their bodies, discourse and knowledge. In addition, this th esis interprets the black fe males can resist power by relying on their own endeavor, si sterly support and artistic life so that they can resist the oppression of power and get liberation both in bodies and in spirit. Based on the analysis of The Color Purple from Foucault’s power theory, this thesis reflects the survival predicam ent of black females, and interprets how black fem ales find a way out of this dilemm a. This thesis not merely makes readers have a better understanding of The Color Purple from the perspective of power theory, but arouses people’s attention towards the disciplinary power employed in modern society.