Examples Of Oppression In The Color Purple

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Oppression is something that can cause a lot of harm especially when it comes from many different people. This is true in The Color Purple by Alice Walker. The main character, Celie, is a victim of oppression based on her skin color and the fact that she is a female. She isn’t the only one that has to go through getting discriminated against. The other person is Sofia, these two women have very different approaches on how they deal with their similar situations. Celie’s approach is more calm and accepting of what’s happening around her. While Sofia’s approach is more to stand up for herself and not allowing men to abuse her without her saying something. The treatment of Celie and Sofia based upon their sex and race is similar to a person being …show more content…

They got me in a little storeroom up under the house, hardly bigger than Odessa’s porch, and just as warm in the winter time. I’m at the beck and call all night and all day. They won’t let me see my children. They won’t let me see no mens. Well, after five years they let me see you once a year. I’m a slave, she say. What would you call it?” (43) Sofia is being realistic about her position at the mayor’s house. See feels very defeated here and doesn’t want to fight anymore. After this Sofia is sent to jail and severely beaten. Once she returns she falls into a more servant role. This shows the oppression that she is forced to withstand and how is eventually knocks her down for good. Sofia used to be someone who was not afraid to speak her mind. Now, she has gotten beaten so many times that she no longer fights back and it content with being a second class …show more content…

Celie approach is much more accepting and doesn’t always fight back. In the novel she says “He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy in church. I may have got something in my eye but I didn’t wink: I don’t look at mens. That’s the truth. I look at women, tho, cause I’m not scared of them.” (32). In Celie’s mind men are mean because of her treatment from Pa and Mr.???. Celie is always reminded that men are in power because she keeps get beaten. When this happens she doesn’t fight back and just lets it happen. Rather than sticking up for herself or leaving Mr.???, she is willingly beaten. Celie is used to the beatings so she doesn’t see the need to fight back. Anyone can see the oppressive state that Celie has to deal with when Mr.??? says “Who do you think you is? He say. You can’t ¬curse nobody. Look at you. You black, you poor, you ugly, you a woman. Goddam, he say, you nothing at all.” (76). Mr.??? says these things so that he can maintain power over Celie. He belittles her to nothing and makes sure that she knows it. He believes that women are worthless and doesn’t treat them with any respect. Celie accepts her role as a black woman during this time period. Their role is to be maid’s for a job and to cook and clean for their family. They have no freedom and often are on the receiving end of physical abuse by a male person. This happens to Celie from her father and

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