THE COLOR PURPLE

Discuss the dramatic impact of a key extract from

‘The Color Purple’.

The film, ‘The Color Purple’, was released in 1985 and it is based on the novel published in 1983 by Alice Walker. ‘The Color Purple’ won nine Oscar nominations and was directed by Steven Spielberg.

The film, ‘The Color Purple’, tells the story of Celie from the age of 13 through to womanhood. The man she thinks is her father rapes her. She has two children who are both taken away from her. She is forced to marry an older man. He abuses her and treats her with complete disrespect. Her husband separates her from her sister and does not allow Celie to get any mail from her sister.

She then meets Shug Avery and she discovers love and support of women.

It took her many years to break free from the abuse of her husband and she is finally re–united with her sister and her children.

The themes that are examined in the film are those of hatred through sexism and abuse, revenge and racism.

Sexism is shown by the way that Celie is not treated equally.

At the time the film was set, 1930’s America, the man ruled the house and the woman did the housework such as; cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. Because of this, the woman would never question their husbands.

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Celie is the ideal example of this because Albert is the man of the house and is in charge and Celie is forced to cook for him, clean the house and look after the children. Every command Albert gives, Celie obeys.

Once Shug Avery is introduced, Albert starts to try to cook for her but Celie is still the housebound housewife.

Racism and discrimination are also major factors because, again, at the time of setting, the white people owned and ruled most of America.

Slaves had been a common factor for 200 years and Celie is treated like a ...

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