Feminism in “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Feminism in the Book The Color Purple
Meaning and Importance
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Many countries pursue the concept of equally in an attempt to empower all people and make it easier for them to achieve their aims. Within the past century, the United States has been associated with numerous developments and challenges that have affected the lifestyles and experiences of the greatest number of citizens, such as oppression, discrimination, and abuse. African Americans and other minority groups have been impacted the most by these malpractices. Feminism stands out in the book The Color Purple as a meaningful theme in this book since the pains and challenges young women go through and their strategies to get rid of them are aimed at promoting the social equality, economic gains, and political positions of all sexes or gender groups. The purpose of this research paper is to discuss the importance and meaning of feminism in the selected book.

Feminism in the Book The Color Purple

The book The Color Purple by Alice Walker gives a detailed analysis of the challenges and predicaments many women of color had to experience throughout the first half of the 20th century in the southern regions of the United States. This kind of portrayal is intended to give a true picture of the issues affecting the progress of many communities in the southern United States. The author uses different characters to describe hardships and abuses many women face from those who are close to them. The example of Celie reveals how different women are abused, raped, and even forced to be married at a tender age. Some fathers in the selected society are seen to torture and even give birth to children with their daughters (Walker 37). These malpractices are disheartening and make it impossible for the affected individuals in the society to realize their potential. Those in marriages are left without say or freedom of expression. Those who try to oppose the existing social norms find it hard to achieve the intended goals. This becomes a reality that many women have to experience or accept.

Despite such portrayals or occurrences, the author manages to present specific examples of how some of the women devise ingenious ways to free themselves and be in a position to overcome the experienced pains. For instance, some of them decide to oppose tier husbands and prevent them from becoming too domineering, such as Sofia. Others go a step further to form positive relationships in an attempt to share their experiences and devise new ways of overcoming their unique challenges. The end result is that they encourage and make it possible for more people to continue engaging on this debate on feminism (Daum 17). These descriptions reveal that such a theme is an outstanding subject that supports the development of the selected text.

Meaning and Importance

The author has set her novel in a society that is characterized by stereotypical and dismissive males. These individual use their prestigious positions or gender roles to oppress women. She focuses on this situation to describe how women are willing to establish positive friendships with each other. This practice becomes a powerful opportunity for sharing their experiences, problems, and stories. It also supports the notion of feminism since they acquire new ideas for resisting any form of oppression and abuse (Walker 49). Although some of these people are unable to do so successfully, their actions and moves become powerful guidelines for delivering positive results in the future. Women who consider these insights become more empowered and willing to focus on the best strategies for promoting equality.

Some sisters in this book are able to form meaningful relationships and friendships in an attempt to understand and address their common problems. The best example is that of Sofia and her siblings. Her strength and ability to fight against oppression from males is something that developed due to her relationships with her sisters. It is also notable that different polygamous marriages succeed due to the positive relations different women establish and promote (Walker 85). This process empowers them to focus on the issues they face and consider additional strategies for becoming more successful. The example of Shug and Celie reveal how such friendships among women result in redemption and realization of personal aims.

Using the idea of feminism, the author manages to describe how different characters are able to stand up for their rights despite the nature of social order established in the selected region. For instance, Sofia emerges as a strong woman who is capable of fighting for her liberties as a woman (Walker 88). She refuses to submit to any attempt by Harpo to control or micromanage her. The end result is that Harpo becomes kinder, gentler, and capable of supporting her needs.

Another outstanding portrayal aimed at advancing the theme of feminism is the estranged relationship between Celie and Shug Avery at the very beginning. However, the pains and challenges they have to go through eventually encourage them to become friends and start focusing on their common goals (Daum 41). Despite such problems, the new relationship becomes an opportunity for promoting equality and encouraging future women to focus on the most appropriate strategies that will eventually make them successful in their respective areas or societies.

Individuals who want to pursue or promote equality and liberation of women will tend to experience various obstacles s in their lives. Sometimes they might be unable to succeed or attract attention of different groups, well-wishers, leaders, or politicians. Some of the people presented in this book are willing to live in families that empower or support them (Cameron 18). Unfortunately, this is far from the case since majority of them are abused and even forced to marry strangers. This is exactly what Celie has to go through. Nonetheless, women who pursue equality in the institution of marriage encounter diverse problems (Daum 59). The best example is that of Sofia whose actions explain why Harpo becomes insecure and even tries to punish her. Shug emerges as a confident woman who is ready to stand up any form of male domination. Unfortunately, this kind of practice explains why she is eventually unable to achieve happiness while at home.

The above examples and descriptions of feminism are instrumental in supporting the establishment of a new order or society that takes the issue of women empowerment or equality seriously. According to Arruzza, the notions of female consciousness are supported by self-definition and self-valuation (103). As observed in the selected book, most of the women appear to be aware of the situations and challenges that they have to face in their lives. This knowledge becomes a new model for promoting self-evaluation and respect. The cases of Celie and Sofia reveal how women can be bale to become aware of their situations and pursue the idea of gradual personal development. In the book, Walker manages to offer a detailed analysis of the level of consciousness of black girls in the American south throughout the 20th century. The representation resonates with most of the issues that led to the emergence of personal awareness (Arruzza 129). This form of understanding promotes a new form of self-valuation, thereby making it possible for more women to engage in additional discussions that can eventually support the fight against any form of female oppression.

The outstanding theme of feminism in this text is intended to provoke some form of criticism that can be important or relevant for promoting this kind of debate. The insights and developments portrayed in the book are intended to describe why women empowerment and equality is not where it has to be. With the pains and challenges many women have to experience, a new form of discussion emerges that seeks to highlight the existing issues and propose superior initiatives for pursuing feministic ideals (Daum 63)). This means that the author wrote the novel in an attempt to present her unique options regarding the malpractices of oppression and gender inequality.

The problems that Celie has to go through echo the issues many women in the American south had to go through, such as forced marriage, rape, disrespect, abuse, and torture. This is a clear indication that such individuals are unable to achieve their objectives due to the misbehaviors of men in their respective cultures or races. Celie is raped by his biological father, something that majority of the young women had to experience in the region (Arruzza 39). The approach to the idea of feminism reveals how the black family remains unsupportive and demeaning towards improving the welfare of the African American woman.

From this analysis and discussion, it is evident that Walker focuses on the concept of feminism in her book in an attempt to present the unique challenges and problems many women experience in their respective families or communities. This achievement becomes a powerful starting point for those who are interested in the challenges affecting women. She goes further to offer unique examples and guidelines using the cases of her characters, such as Celie and Sofia (Walker 56). These developments will continue to guide more women and feminists to engage in additional initiatives and movements that will eventually deliver the equality of all sexes in the world today.

Conclusion

The above discussion has identified feminism as a major theme that stands out in the book The Color Purple. Using this subject matter, the author has been in a position to describe the pains, issues, and challenges many young women in the targeted society have to go through and their strategies to get rid of them. The purpose of such aspects is to promote the social equality, economic gains, and political positions of all sexes or gender groups. This kind of portrayal is essential since it becomes a powerful guideline that many women in the novel consider to become freer and successful. The description also becomes a new tool for encouraging many people in different parts of the world to take the issue of feminism to the next level and promote gender equality.

Works Cited

Arruzza, Cinzia, et al. Feminism for the 99 Percent: A Manifesto. Verso, 2019.

Cameron, Deborah. Feminism. Profile Books, 2018.

Daum, Meghan. The Problem with Everything: My Journey through the Culture Wars. Gallery Books, 2019.

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.

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Feminism in “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

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