The Color Purple is a powerful book which shows some of the African American experience early on in time. Alice Walker created Celie the main character of this book that has many paths she has to travel to become successful. The way Celie became successful was to change physically, spiritually and emotionally.
One of the ways Celie changed was physically. In the beginning of the book Celie was raped repeatedly and abused by a guy named Pa. He started to choke me, saying You better shut up and git used to it. (Walker, 1) This was Celies first sexually physically contact to anyone which left her with a scar. Celie was forced into a loveless marriage leaving her beloved sister with Pa. She was physically hurt due to the fact the Mr.____ does nothing around the house but, just sit on the porch and smoke. Women work. Im a man. (Walker, 21) She was forced to do all of the labor the cooking, cleaning and farming. Celie took this as an advantage because she did not have to spend her time with Mr. ___ and some time to think about Nettie, her sister. He holds all of his anger in until they reach home then expresses it all out.
He beat me today cause he say I winked at ... a boy in church. I may have got somethin in my eye but I didnt wink. I dont even look at mens. Thats the truth. I look at women, tho, cause Im not scared of them.(Walker, )
Even if Celie looks the way of another man and her man thinks that she is signaling to them he will get angry. Physically Celie has been hurt many times for no reason but satisfaction to the man. She always felt safe when ever a woman was near her, wishing they can protect her. In Celies mind, men have a kind of cruelty that women dont possess. Celie always wanted to be like Shug from what she heard of but, everyone always calls her ugly. When Shug Avery is here Celie finds herself physically and sexually attracted towards her. Even when Shug says You sure is ugly (Walker, 46) she still fells something towards her. Celie does not truly see herself as ugly but, different. Celie tries to get the strength to change who she is, obedient and shy.
Gradually Celie finds the strength to leave her tyrannical husband. At the end of the novel Celie emerges as an empowered woman in her own right, through both financial and sexual emancipation. (Dhanyasree, 4)
From what she has been through her whole life she has finally taken a risk to leave her house and move on. This is big a change for Celie, just snooping around the house when she is not to is a big jump for her to change. She got the courage to leave her husband after finding the letters her sister, Nettie wrote to her. Celie is anger at Mr.___ for hiding her sisters letters inside of his trunk and wanting to kill him. In the past, Celie would not stand up or try to face up to against Mr.___ but, found that courage inside of her two new friends Shug and Sofia. Ill kill kim dead before I let him beat me.(Walker, 40) Sofia had toughing up Celie, telling her no man should rule over her and that no man should touch or harm her.
Spiritually she is hurt in a few ways but, had faith in God and moved on. From the beginning of the book to somewhat the end of the book Celie has written continuous letters to God. Later on in the book Celie does not feel like writing letters to God any more do to the fact God has not done anything to help her. What Celie has learned about God is that he will always be there for you no matter what.
Christianity is presented in a positive way in the start of the book, but becomes increasingly negative as Celie becomes more disgruntled with God. For example, all of the letters at the beginning of the book written by Celie are addressed to God. This shows that she believes in God and that she relies on him for support, as she has nobody else to confide in. This is shown when she recognizes that she can "tell nobody but God" about the abuse of her by her stepfather. ( , 6)
Her belief in God was very strong to start off the book but, then fade away in the middle. Celie was introduced to pantheism. Pantheism is the belief that God is everything. This means that everything has a bit of God in them rather than him being a being who rules over them like a King or Emperor. ( , 5) Celie believes in that everyone has a bit of kindness inside of them even if the are really heartless. Also, there is hope that you can change a person.
Dear Nettie,
I dont write to God no more. I write ... to you.
What happen to God? ast Shug.
Who that? I say.
She look at me serious.
Big a devil as you is, I say, you not worried bout no God, surely.
She say, Wait a minute. Hold on just a minute here. Just because I dont harass it like some peoples us know dont mean I aint got religion.
What God do for me? I ast.
She say, Celie! Like she shock. He gave you life, good health, and a good woman that love you to death.
Yeah, I say, and he give me a lunched daddy, a crazy mama, a lowdown dog of a step pa and a sister I probably wont ever see again. Anyhow, I ay, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling, forgetful and lowdown.
She say, Miss Celie, You better hush. God might hear you.Let im hear me, I say. If he ever listened to poor colored women the world would be a different place, I can tell you. (Walker, )
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