Epistolary novel The Color Purple, composed by American author Alice Walker, illuminates life of African American women in the South parts of the US during 1930-s. This novel is considered to be one of the most controversial and censored literary work of Walker due to its explicit scenes of violence. Thus, in her letters to God main heroine, Celie, reveals true horrors of her life. Being, uneducated and poor fourteen-year-old African American Southerner, Celie faces constant physical and emotional abuse first from her father, Alphonso, who beats and rapes her and later from her husband, known as Mister. (Walker) In this novel reader may observe not only sexist treatment of women in the African American communities in the South but also personal changes like Celie`s establishment as independent and strong personality. Moreover, by its unique way of narration this novel reminds a quilt that tells story of the womanhood hardships in the South. (Dieke, 141) Depiction of different female characters elucidates condition and position of black women in the society. Through, Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia author shows marginalization and sexist oppression of black women in American society, regardless of their social status or educational background. With this in mind, one may see how greatly black women are marginalized which more often than not leads to absence of personal identity, as in case with Celie. In order to reveal women`s marginalized and oppressive position in the society one should analyze female characters in terms of their relationship with men and process of gaining personal identity and independence.
Trough Celie, Walker focuses on chauvinistic treatment of women which not only deprives them from normal and safe life in the society but also destroys women`s personality. Author puts into focus young girl, Celie, who is imprisoned by racist and sexist oppression created by men in her life. Moreover, she lacks not only independence and respect but also identity. Celie incarnates an “invisible woman, a character traditionally silenced and effaced in fiction; and by centering on her, Walker replots the heroine`s text”. (Sedehi et al., 1329) Celie is voiceless in her life and the only way of expressing her relief may be achieved only through writing letters to God. She is afraid to share her feelings and miseries with others, even with her sister Nettie, because she underwent severe abuse and oppression due to men. It should be mentioned that “black women always live under patriarchal rules, they do not regard themselves as free people who can control their own lives.” (Sedehi et al., 1329) Moreover, submissive and limited women`s position in the society may be traced to the African roots, which can be seen in Nettie`s encounter and life in Olinka`s culture. For instance Nettie`s conversation with representative of Olinka, “The Olinka do not believe girls should be educated. When I asked a mother why she thought this, she said: A girl is nothing to herself; only to her husband can she become something.” (Walker, 101) With this in mind, one may see that Walker draws parallel with African origin and roots; therefore illuminating possible source of misogynic treatment of women. Moreover, slavery-like treatment of black women became more intense in the American society especially during the period of slavery and after its termination. It is evident from the very first pages of this novel, that Cilie and her father have master-slave relations which she describes as “He never had a kine word to say to me. Just say You gonna do what your mammy wouldn’t” and lines “He start to choke me, saying You better shut up and git used to it. But I don’t never get used to it” show domineering position of men. (Walker, 4-5) Moreover, due to emotional and physical harassment Celie`s personality have no way to grow and develop; therefore turning her into submissive kitchen slave who is figuratively deprived from voice. She is convinced that in order to survive in this world, as well as, in Mr.’s house she has to unconditionally obey him. With this in mind, one may see how oppressed black women are in American society and to what extent Celie`s personality and inner-self is distorted. Her devouring of pain led Celie to loss of her personality which can be seen from Celie`s conversation with Shug Avery when she inquires when was the last time when Celie expressed anger; thus Celie says: “I think. I can’t even remember the last time I felt mad, I say. I used to git mad at my mammy cause she put a lot of work on me. Then I see how sick she is. Couldn’t stay mad at her. Couldn’t be mad at my daddy cause he my daddy. Bible say, Honor father and mother no matter what. Then after while every time I got mad, or start to feel mad, I got sick. Felt like throwing up. Terrible feeling. Then I start to feel nothing at all.” (Walker, 40) As can be seen because of constant psychological and physical abuse her emotional well-being is far from normal. Also, her personality reminds a cracked, empty vessel waiting to be filled with something meaningful. Celie`s salvation comes in form of other oppressed women who show different position in society as well as in life. As the novel unfolds Celie finds strengths to stand up for herself due to the indirect impact of other women.
Moreover, this sisterhood and bond reflect not only women`s struggle for better life but also elucidates women`s possibilities that may be achieved through support. “That is the reason why Maples believes that: Alice Walker`s The Color Purple is a liberative text that showcases a method by which her character, and ostensibly African-Americans, can situate themselves within the world. (Maples, 2007, p. 1) It follows that the novel is inherently related to the notion of growth.” (Sedehi et al., 1330) Also, it should be mentioned that “Celie is a character that Alice Walker brings into fiction from real life, as Walker observed the way her parents were influenced by racism and how they were forced to work as sharecroppers on white men`s farms.” (Sedehi et al., 1330) With this in mind one may see that theme of marginalization and misogyny of black women is not exaggerated and oversized but grounded. Moreover, through bond with other women and sisterhood one may have chance to not only stand against men`s oppression, but also be heard; thus grow and develop as personality. “The Color Purple is representative of “a woman`s struggle toward linguistic self-definition in a world of disrupted signs: Celie is imprisoned, alienated, sexually abused and driven into semiotic collapse” (Abbandonato, 1991, p. 1106). Moreover, “Celie is silenced by an external source and experiences the nullification of subjectivity and internal voice” (Cutter, 2000, p. 164), but throughout the novel she starts to find her voice and express herself.” (Sedehi et al., 1331) Indirect support of other female characters in the form of Celie`s observation of their life help her to “vocalize her miseries as soon as she feels secure within sisterhood bond.”(Sedehi et al., 1331) This feeling of security gives way to her inner growth and development as independent woman who rejects oppression and violence in her address.
Moreover, position of other women in this novel indicates no less sexist treatment from men. However, other female characters are more emotionally secure andindependent than Celie. For instance, independent, successful and sexually attractive singer Shug Avery who has higher position in the society compared to protagonist. Shug Avery is not a fierce feministic rebellion like Harpo`s wife Sofia, on the contrary she is smart tactic who uses men to her advantage. She perfectly well understands how limited women`s position is, but at the same time she understands what a beautiful woman can do in order to broaden it a bit. This way of using appearance indicates women`s powerlessness and inequality to men because without her beauty and man`s patronage Shug Avery could not achieve her position. The other example of independent woman is Sofia who literary fights in order to be treated as a human. She is strong-spirited and does not want to yield to any oppression or violence. Thus, she views life as a constant battle and men as opponents. Moreover, her fierce desire to be treated as a human being leads her into great trouble. However, Shug Avery and Sofia are two women that affect Celie`s establishment as an independent woman. Their impact was due to their personalities which are:
“Sofia and Shug not like men, he say, but they not like women either.
You mean they not like you or me.
They hold they own, he say. And it’s different.” (Walker, 90)
Presence of such independent women inspires Celie and provides her with new envision of woman possibilities and position in the society. However, one may see that oppression and marginalization greatly touched Sofia and Shug too. Sexism not only limits women in society but also prevents from normal family relationship as it was with Harpo and Sofia as well as with Shug Avery and her father. It should be mentioned that Celie`s sister Nettie also incarnates struggle against men`s oppression and sexist treatment. With her desire to acquire knowledge she represents desire to achieve a better position in the society as well as a chance to develop as personality but not like a slave. With this in mind all these women are shown as the opposite to Celie in order to illuminate theme of sexism and women marginalization from different perspectives. Moreover, only womanhood bond helps Celie to stand for herself; therefore gaining long lost independence and personality.
All things considered, all women in this novel face marginalization and sexism treatment regardless of their educational background or social status. Walker skillfully showed how voiceless woman can be in the oppressive society when she is left alone with her problems and how one can return voice when supported. This novel illuminates not only women`s problems n the Southern America but also it shows social and family relations of black people that were widely spread in the South.
References
Dieke, Ikenna. Critical Essays On Alice Walker. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1999. Print.
Sedehi, Kamelia Talebian et al. "The Color Purple And Women's Time". Journal of Language Teaching and Research 5.6 (2014): n. pag. Web.
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982. Print.
