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The color purple research paper analysis

Cypher betrays his comrades s can once again live in the computer simulation. In the Plato cave allegory piece, there is a dialogue taking place between Socra and Plato’s brother Glaucon. Here, Socrates describes a scenario in which men ar held captive as prisoners in a cave from childhood. The men have their legs and head fettered so that they can only look straight ahead at the cave wall.

For their hole lives they have seen shadows on the wall, objects passing by and all they could do is guess what the objects were. Then, Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine that one of these men was released. Ultimately, they deduce that the freed man would pity the other prisoners because he was able to experience things as they actually were and did not have to imagine what everything was. The reality was far more precious than his imagination. The third writing comes from Meditation I from Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes who offers some reasons to doubt his senses. In The Color Purple Research Paper By skesrich

Purple America America was in its prime in the 1920’s.

A time of many drastic changes, 1920’s Americans enjoyed a booming economy, a prosperous and wealthy upper-class society, and general international and national peace. For African Americans; e nc however, the 1920’s meant facing economic struggle, racial prejudices, and gende stereotypes. In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, the main character Celie experien many boundaries within the workforce, domestics, and society of the 1920’s. Thro many attempts to better her lifestyle and display her individuality, Celie finds life extremely difficult in the prejudiced, 1920’s South.

Alice Walker did not experienc the same discrimination Celie fights against, but, Walker portrays her familial bon and childhood lessons through Celie’s personal struggles, aspirations, and accomplishments.

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple explores the negative stereotyp of the 1920’s against women and blacks, detailing Celie’s mental and physical fgh happiness and freedom while learning to please herself without regard for othe opinions of her, instilling in Celie a strong sense of self-confidence and self- determination. From the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, the United Sta ent through two dramatic time periods: the Progressive Era and the Roaring Twenties. During the Progressive Era, (1895-1918,) the status of blacks worsened. Expecting to come home from World War One (1914-1918) as national heroes equ whites, blacks found less Job opportunities, encountered stronger racial prejudic than in previous years, and saw an incline in a white superiority mentality. Simila the blacks returned from war, women – specifically black women – fought for gend equality even harder once returned men and soldiers took the women’s leading positions in the economy, politics, and business (Whitley).

Despite the short amou of time the war allowed women to expand their roles in the work force; however, the 1920’s “ most middle-class women expected to spend their lives as homemake and mothers” (“ Women at Home”).

Females usually worked as teachers, nurses, cl or in the domestic services; it was very unusual for a woman to cross into the worl of business or finance (“ Women in the Labor Force”). In Walker’s The Color Pur Celie refuses to accept the status quo of women staying home to raise the family, care for the house, and please the husband. Outlining the struggles of women in arly twentieth century, many call Walker’s The Color Purple a feminist novel. Contrary to the much-annihilated use of the word “ feminist;” however, Walker describes her novel as “ Womanist’, not feminist’. A womanist is a woman who..

. prefers woman’s culture… emotional flexibility.

.. and…

strength” (Contemporary Literary Criticism 422). The “ womanist” culture of The Color Purple is not meant to undermine the strength of men, nor deny the positive aspects of a co-gender lifestyle and society. Walker focuses on the women’s struggles in her novel; however, to emphasize the importance of a woman’s self-love, strength, and independence.

George Stade also notes the novel “ does not argue the equality of the sexes; it dramatizes, rather, the virtues of women and the vices of men” (Stade 429).

As Stade the lives of a select few women, and in particular of Celie, who struggle against gender-prejudiced men in their lives while the women fght to prove their autonomy and virtue. Celie desires more from life than homemaking, and dreams of leaving her small-town lifestyle behind. Torn between her dreams and reality, Celie questions her fate compared to “ Nettie, dead. She fght, she run away. What good it do? I don’t fight, I stay where I’m told.

But I’m alive” (Walker 21). Celie does not know if it is wo the pain to fght for what she believes in while getting hurt by others, or, if she nc should live discontented, barely provided for, and yet alive throughout the rest of life. As a black woman of the 1910’s and 1920’s, Celie faces countless prejudices against her role as a woman in society and in the household. By the end of the n however, Celie breaks all traditions and stereotypes of blacks and women of the ti period by opening her own pants business and living independently. Though Walker did not directly face the gender and racial prejudices of the 19 id-century life taught Walker many life lessons which she never forgot, and late described in her writing. Growing up, Walker’s parents taught Walker to reach for dreams and never give up hope of achieving them.

The Color Purple deals with C aspiring for great goals similar to Walker: self-respect, pride, and success. Walke parents instilled in Walker the ability to choose her own path in life, and to make what she wanted (Encyclopedia of World Biography). Later to write about the fictio character Celie in The Color Purple, Walker portrays her young childhood dreams hrough Celie’s free-minded and ambitious character. Gloria Steinem writes, “ The. pleasure of The Color Purple is watching people..

. work out the moral themes in th lives (Steinem 424). At first, Celie mentally isolates herself, and reveals her fears, hopes, and emotions solely to God through her daily prayer. Celie believes throug religious introversion and keeping secrets from her husband, her life will improve and she will better herself, her lifestyle, and find happiness.

As Celie’s life progresses; however, her daily struggles deepen in severity, and Celie loses confidence in prayer.

In a heated argument about the true meaning of religious f Celie’s friend Shug speaks Celie’s inner thoughts regarding God, saying Celie is “ m cause he don’t seem to listen to your prayers” (Walker 195). After years of endless prayer asking for a better life and a reunion with Nettie, Celie realizes she has to on her dreams, not Just pray about them. Hoping does not advance Celie’s lifestyl all; action alone improves Celie’s status. Late in the book, Celie finally takes charg her own life and decides to open her own pants-making business – an individual decision which brings immediate pleasure and success to Celle.

Celie becomes a stronger, independent, and autonomous woman through her self-made business.

A recurrent theme in Walker’s The Color Purple lies in the intricate family bonds among characters. Though characters face numerous difficulties which reveal familial deceit, childhood lies, and parental dishonesty and hate, most characters remain obedient to their households and elders. Difficult times throughout the novel often break love and trust within families, but, characters come back to their roots to accept the life God made for them. In an interview with Library Journal in 1970,

Walker explained, “ Family relationships are sacred,” a remark thoroughly depicted in The Color Purple’s close familial bonds and characters’ loyalties to their families various other men who abuse her, Celie struggles in breaking away from those who hurt her without causing pain in those she leaves. One of the strongest bonds in the story lies between Celie and her sister Nettie, a relationship inspired by dreams, prayer, writing, and hope. Before Nettie gives up contacting her long-lost sister, she realizes “ whether God will read letters or no, I know you will go on writing them; hich is guidance enough for me.

.. When I don’t write to you I feel as bad as I do when I don’t pray, locked up in myself and choking on my own heart” (Walker 130). nc a sisterhood love as strong as the one between Nettie and Celle, writing letters to each other without response and praying to God are enough to keep the two siste together spiritually, though physically separated by an ocean.

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