The Color Purple Feminist Analysis

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In this paper the author analyzes the contents of the color purple. He attempts to answer the question of what makes Alice Walker’s most popular literary work a feminist novel. First he points out the stigma that involves nearly all of the male gender depicted throughout the story. He takes the time to address the rape that was involved and the manner in which it was implemented. Then the paper discusses how in the color purple women are depicted as being oppressed. And also it talks about how Celie grows as a woman thanks to the aid of two strong female companions. The question that I will be addressing in this paper: Why is this a feminist novel? At first I wasn’t really sure The color purple was a feminist novel, the book almost …show more content…

Throughout the course of the book Alice Walker repeatedly stresses that the women in The Color Purple are oppressed and are not treated as equals. Excluding rape here are some examples: “She ugly. He say. But ain’t no stranger to hard work.p8 He look at me. It like he looking at the earth. It need something? His eyes say.”p20 You too dumb to keep going to school, Pa say”.p9 Then turn her face to the clerk. He say, Girl you want that cloth or not? We got other customers sides you.”p14 There are also multiple times throughout the book where Ceclie or other women are encouraged to stand up for themselves. “You got to let them know who got the upper hand. You got to fight them, Celie, She say. I can’t do it for you. You got to fight them for yourself.” One of the most powerful messages relayed to Celie would have to be from Shug, “All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain 't safe in a family of men. But I never thought I 'd have to fight in my own house. She let out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. But I 'll kill him dead before I let him beat

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