The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker was one of her third novels, published in 1982. The Color Purple is about the story and the experience of religious faith and sexual discrimination towards two African American sisters that are having to face throughout youth and premature adult hood. Celie, the protagonist and narrator of The Color Purple, is a poor, uneducated, fourteen-year-old black girl living in rural Georgia. Celie starts writing letters to God because her father, Alphonso, beats and rapes her. Although the both of these sisters witness these life changing moments, only one of the sisters truly lives through it, while the other experiences it through her sister and her stories.
In their experiences of religious spirituality, sexual discrimination, and gender inequality Celie and Nettie share a connection of differences and similarities. Nettie is more privileged, educated, and luckily escapes the worst of the abuse and awakening which Celie faces.
The Color Purple, Alice Walker's third novel, was published in 1982. The novel brought fame and financial success to its author. It also won her considerable praise and much criticism for its controversial themes. Many reviewers were disturbed by her portrayal of black males, which they found unduly negative.
When it comes done to the connections and differences of the two sisters from the book “The Color Purple”, Celie being the older, "experienced” sister, and Nettie who supposedly is the brains and confident one is one of the most touchiest and dramatical books ever to be written. They have many themes that connect and separate the sisters, however what mostly stands out is the relationship these sisters have with the all mighty “God” they seem to speak of.
But deep in my heart I care about God. What he going to think. And come to find out, he don't think. Just sit there, glorying in being deef.” (pg. 194)
Celie's belief and regards toward god is only as a protector and sign of hope. Faith only seems to remain in Celie because of just for two reasons. For one, she has an opinion of Nettie loving her for who she is and she finds that a reason to keep looking into answers beneath the inspiration of both Nettie and God. However, Celie's view toward god and his existence changed during the time Shug presented courage upon her. On top of that she found out that Mr.___ took away what she most cared about and felt was loved by the most.
Nettie unlike Celie had a stronger belief of God's presence and existence. Although Nettie truly didn't feel hell like Celie did, she still saw it through Nettie and knew it would once come to her. This in particular experience shaped Nettie to the aspects of her views in life and religion. She seen more beauty of the world, she seen powerful connections and bonds between family and friends. She took in Religion as a career. She got an opportunity to follow and understand her nephews as they returned to where their ancestors once lived and spread the teaching of their tradition and spiritual souls.
Dear Nettie, I don't 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 don't harass it like some peoples us know don't mean I ain't got religion. What God do for me? I ast. What God do for me? I ast. (pg. 193)
Although Nettie is more educated and understands the life behind fields and work. It could never be a excuse for why Celie is less educated and fearful. Even if Nettie never had an education, she would have still fought for her rights and equality of her equality. Celie's fear and doubt towards everything held her back of continuing to fight and urge to her freedom as a child, that is until the arrival of Shug and the discovery of Nettie's existence and love for her sister.
Well, next time you come you can look at her. She ugly. Don't even look like she kin to Nettie. But she'll make the better wife. She aint smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own. But she can work like a man. (Pg. 18)
“Us both be hitting Nettie's schoolbooks pretty hard, Cause us we got to be smart to git away.” (pg. 9)
“I know I'm not as pretty or as smart as Nettie, but she say I ain't dumb.” (pg. 9)
This is the best proof available that supports my idea of Celie giving up her freedom to her fear of men. However, I don't blame her, being abused and raped since she was 14 gives her a pretty good dam reason to fear men. Although, I don't understand her plans of brain and escape. She had the same smarts (however not education) as Nettie, so why didn't she escape?
conclusion:
Restate (rephrase but don't repeat) your thesis statement.
Summarize the main points of your analysis.
Don't add new evidence/analysis.
What can we learn about religious faith/gender discrimination (or whatever points you used in your comparison) from these characters in this novel? In other words, what do you suppose is Alice Walker's "point"?
Sources:
http://www.enotes.com/color-purple
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Color Purple.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
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