Essay on Uniting People in The Color Purple -- Color Purple Essays

Uniting People in The Color Purple Red, a color of hatred, a color of anger, a color of oppression. Purple, a color of pride, a color of love, a color of triumph. The clashing of colors, and the uniting of a people. Think of how much more we would see if we did not have eyes. Physical appearances rule the world; the spiritual and emotional gifts emanating from within each individual are left to live an empty existence of incessant, smother-some abuse and to die a tragic and appalling death. Through colloquial diction, emotionally and spiritually turbulent episodes, and an uninhibited, straight-forward writing style, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, astonishingly displays society's alienation of the African-American woman. Celie, a homely woman, lived a life of penetrating violence. At an early age the man thought to be her father shamelessly soiled her fourteen year old body for his own carnal satisfaction; she did "what her mammy wouldn't". With one forceful act of violence a childhood ended and a life-time of pain began. The only reason for Celie's existence was to fulfill the needs of a vile and abusive congregation of men. The white man destroyed the black man, the black man destroyed the woman. An endless cycle of rancor and insecurity dominated the lives of women who knew not of their own talents and self-worth. Bare-foot and pregnant, was the only way of life for these abandoned souls. "She ugly. But she ain't no stranger to hard work. And she clean. And God done fixed her. You can do everything just like you want to and she ain't gonna make you feed it or clothe it." Celie, sold, like a slave, into an unloving marriage, represents the indifference and ignorance of society. Celie's marriage to Mr.__... ...ug, Squeak, and Celie fled from their oppressors to the North. Celie utilized her talent of sewing to create new fashions. A talent, once employed only at her husband's call, gave her the self assurance necessary for her attainment of a better future. The death of her father served as a drastic realization. An era of abuse and vulgarity finally ended. His hold on Celie and Nettie no longer existed, they were truly free. Awaiting Nettie's return and escaping the emotional turmoil of Shug's departure, Celie ventured home. Respect from Sofia, Harpo, and even Mr._____ shocked and rattled Celie's mind. Standing up for her rights destroyed an aura of weakness and pushed her ahead to redeem a dormant spirit. Nettie's, Olivia's, Adam's, and Shug's return finalized the uniting of a family, of a town, of a nation, proving in the end we are one . . .a nation of purple.