There can be no denial of the fact that the novel, The Color Purple, penned by Alice Walker goes on to delve deep into the concept of identity and existence via the portrayal of the character of Celie, the female protagonist of the novel. It has to be noted that the entire narrative of this literary work is aim at recreating the identity of the narrator who recapitulates the times of her past life and her hardships. The story progresses through the perspective of the protagonist, and the avid readers come to realize how the recapitulation plays a part in making Celie reinvent herself. A close introspection of the narrative would enable one and all to have a much better comprehension of the novel and the character.
One needs to take into account the fact that Celie was a poor and uneducated black lady whose personal life is shrouded with a sad history. One comes to know how she is abused by her stepfather as the narrative describes how she was raped and gave birth to two children who were both taken away from her by her stepfather and presumably killed. While describe the abuse by her father, she opines, “But I don’t never get used to it. And now I feels sick every time I be the one to cook.” (Walker, 1983) This shows how she holds her own in spite of being the victim. She goes on to display dignity of language in recounting her life. The literary work thus engages in portraying how important it is never to give in and have self-respect. Then again, at one point of time she tells, “He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy in church. I may have got somethin in my eye but I didn’t wink. I don’t even look at mens.” (Walker, 1983) One can understand how she puts up a dignified demeanor in the face of abuses and torture. How she justifies her stand and explicates her view is something that shows her strength of personality.
In fact, Cecil’s terms with her husband too are found to be not too well in the course of the novel in context. She goes on to pen, “Pa rattle his newspaper. Move up, he won’t bite, he say. I go closer to the steps, but not too close cause I’m a little scared of his horse. Turn round, Pa say. I turn round.” (Walker, 1983) Here, she describes her first introduction with her husband before their marriage. It can be comprehended that there was a discomfort right from the very inception of the relationship between the two people. Celie was overpowered by her father in this circumstance, but the way she chooses to describe the occurrence shows her firmness as a lady even after being encompassed by people who were overpowering on her. The novel goes on to describe how the protagonist went on to explore her sexuality being attracted toward Shug. This exploration of sexuality can be comprehended to be effect of the continual abuse by her stepfather and also the discomfort and distance with her husband. Nonetheless, the narrator is dignified in her description of the matter.
It has to be noted that by the end of the novel, the avid readers come to realize that Celie has succeeded in reinventing her identity while she goes on to maintain her dignity in the face of all the hardships and abuses. Finally she goes on to find reconciliation with her husband. There can be no doubt about the matter that Celie has been a victim of the circumstances as she has been abused by her stepfather, stripped off her children, disrespected by her husband for a long time. However, she takes all the challenges in her stride and emerges as the epitome of a fighter who never gives in. Her dignity and identity stands tall by the end of this novel as the avid readers realize how gritty she is as a lady who faces the odds and writes about them with dignity and self-respect only to find her position in due course of time.
References
Walker, Alice. (1983). The Color Purple. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing
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