A Study On Womanism In The Color Purple From The Perspective Of The Marginal Man Theory

Alice Walker is the first black woman writer who wins the Pulitzer Prize in American history.She devotes herself to the emancipation of black community,especially the emancipation of black females.The ultimate goal of Womanism which is proposed by Alice Walker aims to realize liberation of whole black community including black males and females as well as harmony of humanity,which is different from Feminism.The masterpiece of Alice Walker,The Color Purple,causes great influence in academic circle after its publication.Walker describes white people's discrimination and oppression to black people as well as black males' discrimination and oppression to black females in the novel.The novel reflects the plight of blacks as well as the hardship that black females pursue liberation and emancipation under racial discrimination and gender oppression.This thesis aims to discuss how blacks who are in a marginal position realize self-liberation from the perspective of Stonequist and Dickie-Clark's Marginal Man Theory.Through the analysis of The Color Purple,the author illustrates how Walker exhibits her Womanism in the novel.The thesis studies The Color Purple from the perspective of the marginal man theory,therefore,it is hoped that it can help to understand the novel and give a new view angle for the application of the theory in literary study.Black females,who are in a double marginal position,live difficultly in the crevice of racial discrimination and gender oppression.They fight for economic independence and spirit independence.At last,they achieve equal status with males.Black males,who are also live in the margin of society,are expelled from the dominant group.Fortunately,they gain forgiveness and help of black females.Black males finally reconcile with black females.When gender oppression is solved among black community,they begin to deal with racial discrimination.Blacks reconcile with whites at the end of the novel,which indicates that black community are finally accepted by the dominant group.Through the analysis of black people getting rid of their marginal position and realizing self-emancipation,this thesis illustrates Walker's Womanism clearly.In addition,this thesis points out that Walker's double marginal identity has great influence on herliterary creation and Walker pays much attention and concern to social problems.This study also indicates that reconciliation among black community is very meaningful for black community to get rid of their marginal position and to achieve the ultimate goal of Womanism,which is to realize the survival of whole humanity.