AS and A Level: Alice Walker
- Marked by Teachers essays 4
- 1
- 2
-
-
Walker's presentation of Celie and Shug's growing relationship.
5 star(s)A close and personal link is created by Celie and Shug's first physical encounter. Celie's sexual urges for Shug continue to develop in a later letter. "If I don't watch out I'll have hold of her hand, tasting her fingers in my mouth." The syntax of this sentence shows a change in desires; the caesura splits a relatively soft, harmless urge with one of more extreme consequences; thus showing Celie's confusion over her desires. The use of a complex sentence represents that Celie does not wish to pause whilst describing the event as it offers her too much pleasure.
- Word count: 1518
-
Explore Walkers Portrayal of Female Identity - The Color Purple
4 star(s)Although Walker has portrayed Celie as a weak individual, Mr calls her "You black, you pore, you ugly, youa woman." Quotations like this show just what level of racism and sexism Celie and maybe Walker herself had to compete with. Walker may have portrayed Celie in this way to exaggerate the fact that she is also filled with courage. She tries to stand up to Mr ____ , and claims she will " curse him" until "you[ he] do right by me".
- Word count: 1558
-
Walker's presentation of Sofia and Harpo.
4 star(s)Although this gluttony could in fact be comfort eating and so is associated with his feminine image. Harpo's need for control then extends to the bedroom, where Sofia says "once he git on top of me I think bout how that's where he always want to be." The situation here - as well as the previously accumulating tensions - has led Sofia to believe that she "need a vacation". Walker states that Sofia's sisters are all "big strong healthy girls", the words big and strong both have very powerful connotations. The two words are used very commonly and are short and simple; this reflects the simplicity of the sisters in terms of erudition but the physical power in terms of strength and dominance.
- Word count: 1695
-
Alice Walkers depiction of men in The Color Purple has been controversial - Explore the opinions of the two critics printed below and explain your own view of the way Walker presents men in The Colour Purple.
4 star(s)He defends himself instantly, saying that the majority of black men have not. He then speaks of the problem that black men have when it comes to loving, saying the love has "...been drained out by the brutality of a society panic-stricken over black masculinity." Brown then goes on to tackle the issue of lesbian affairs in the book, and that they give women "...emotional and sexual salvation..." He defends his position saying that this is not the case in the real world, even though many frustrated black women seem to want to believe.
- Word count: 2052
-
The text The Color Purple, in both the novel by Alice Walker and the film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg, show Celies, a broken, mistreated girl, developing into an independent, strong woman,
The novel tells the story through Celies letters, and therefore the reader knows nothing more than what Celie writes. This strong, single point of view makes the story much more personal and the effect of her innocent, frank language make the injustices she is put through even more stirring. The book uses Celies short, blunt sentences to convey her fear and turmoil, opening with a simple confronting sentence: "you better never tell nobody but God. It'd kill your mammy". Celie starts as a scared, confused girl with nothing in the world but her faith in God and her love for her younger sister, Nettie.
- Word count: 1158
-
first 6 letters in the color purple analysis
Celie whom we assume is pregnant while writing this letter is 14 and does not understand what is happening to her body .Celie's father "fonso" has turned to her for sexual gratification after her sick "mammy" has refused to and got her pregnant for the second time he has killed her first baby and sold her second one. Her mother dies and her two babies have been nobbled and she is left with breast full of milk for no one "I got breasts full of milk running down myself".
- Word count: 781
-
The Colour Purple essay
Walker shows Celie to be proud of Sofia's authority over a white man: "she scare that white man. Anybody else colored he try to call 'em auntie or something. First time he try that with Sofia she ast him which colored man his mama sister marry." There is a lot of symbolism used in letter 89 which imply aspects of Celie's attitudes to life. She shows her room to Shug: "Well here it is, I say, standing in the door. Everything in my room purple and red cept the floor," The colours purple and red symbolise bruises on a beaten woman's skin and in painting her room these colours her attitudes towards life are revealed, it suggests that Celie accepts her past life of abuse.
- Word count: 1464
-
Many would argue that men hold the power in "The Colour Purple". Explore the opinions of critics Andrea Stuart and Mary O' Connor and explain your own view of what Alice Walker has to say about the power in "The Colour Purple".
The love shared between Shug and Celie was getting closer and more passionate. Shug's feelings for Celie to us seemed true even though she had male sexual partners Celie still seemed more important to Shug than any other of her male partners. Andrea Stuart expresses that Celie doesn't mind that her lover Shug comes home with a husband. She only cares that Shug is back with her, "the existence of a husband is irrelevant to what is important, the relationship between the two women". Albert did not have a clue to what was going on between the two of them.
- Word count: 3588
-
Analyse and discuss the themes of slavery and racism in the Color Purple. How is the white community portrayed by walker?
sir', in reply to what has just been said to her, this is a very polite reply, it shows that the black persons mentality was to accept their social status, not to challenge or retaliate against it. This mutual agreement between the two races was formed presumably by years of aggression and violence if any member of the black community was to hit back at the white man for demeaning him, it was accepted, not accepted in the sense that the black man was happy with the white man for putting him down, but it was accepted because the black man had no power or jurisdiction over the matter.
- Word count: 1466
-
Examine the author's presentation of men, women and gender roles in 'The Color Purple' and 'Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit.'
Instantly the readers are drawn into the brutality, violence and inhumanity of this particular 'male' gender. The father addressed as 'Pa,' who is supposed to represent a protector, comforter, breadwinner and guardian- that loves and protects his family, is presented in a completely diverse manner. Whereas in "Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit," the protagonist touches upon the fact that the father is the breadwinner in the house, however is incapable of emotionally providing for the young Jeanette, as he is never there for her.
- Word count: 3733
-
Alice Walker's novel "The Third Life of Grange Copeland" - review
Margaret has become a woman resigned to her life and tries to emulate Grange's life of drinking and copulation. Grange Copeland eventually leaves the family to go 'up north' to seek his fortune. When he leaves, Margaret kills herself and her baby, leaving Brownfield to cope alone. Brownfield leaves the poverty stricken area and goes in search of his father, but stops at a whorehouse owned and run by 'Fat Josie' and her daughter. While he is there, he meets 'Mem', the niece of Fat Josie and eventually they decide to marry.
- Word count: 3389
-
Fred D'Aguiar's book "The Longest Memory" - review
The branding that indicated who ruled them was black skin; this was obvious and could be seen by everyone. Any skin colour darker than white skin became a sign that they were inferior, dumb, had no beliefs, reckless and needed to be controlled. Since Africans were brought to America against their will, it was easier to use them as slaves. It was also more economical to use blacks as slaves. Runaways were recognized readily. Before human rights movements, it was these thoughts of blacks that made it acceptable to take them from their families to work under harsh conditions and live on the barest of essentials, because white people believed they were doing them a favour.
- Word count: 1220
-
Comment on the way in which Kath Walker makes a social commentary in her poem
Aborigines are longing for "help" in times of assistance, to be "welcome(d)" and to have a "choice" in life. A need for an end to stereotyping and racial prejudice is expressed in the use of wording chosen by Walker. She articulates her anger towards defamation directed at the Aboriginal community. Walker feels the strong need for white society to stop "libelling" and defaming Aborigines as "fringe-dweller" that reside within "missions" "Aboriginal Character of Rights" encompasses Walkers innermost hopes, thoughts and emotions - all of which reflect upon the unjustly treatment of the Indigenous people throughout history. Walker presents a social commentary through poetry that comprehensively reviews the common rights of all Aboriginal people.
- Word count: 881
-
Alice Walker Uses Symbolism to Address Three Issues: Racism, Feminism and the Search for Cultural Identity.
to take part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Perched in a tree limb to try to get a view, Alice couldn't see much of the main podium, but was able to hear Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" address." (Alice Walker Biography) Walker is a vegetarian involved in many other issues, including nuclear proliferation, and the environment. Her insight to African American culture comes from her travel and experiences in both America and Africa. Walker is an activist regarding oppression and power, championing victims of racism and sexism.
- Word count: 2688
-
How have the texts you have studied this year effectively shaped your understanding of the meaning of change?
The pink rose symbolizes love, passion and intimacy and in a way the Garden of Eden, they taste the forbidden fruit (sex). The coloured objects that begin to appear are almost warnings to when changes in people/society are about to occur such as when Betty's playing cards and the all her cards are red hearts. It symbolizes the love that she's developing for George. However when Skip and Betty were introduced to sexual activities consequently the basket ball team lost their talent and tree outside Betty's home blew up in flame in reaction to there experiences this shows that each time something drastic changes (like sex)
- Word count: 1626
-
Gender roles in The Color Purple.
Southern women on wealthy plantations became ornaments for their husbands often called "plantation mistresses" (Brinkley 379). George Fitzhugh, a Southern social theorist, says about Southern women, "Women, like children, have but one right, and that is the right to protection. The right to protection involves the obligation to obey." (Brinkley 379). Fitzhugh states that because women are entitled to protection and all the benefits of the women's "sphere," they therefore, are not entitled to govern themselves and are required to obey the husband's commands. The husband's protection authorizes him to control the actions and the entire life of his wife.
- Word count: 2518
-
To what extent is 'The Color Purple' a novel dedicated to the rights of black women?
It'd kill your mammy". This sets the scene as to the invisibility of the women in the black community at that time, and the sentiment is continued through the generations of the male characters. When Celie is first introduced to Mr. _______, the second most prominent male in her life, he admits, "I ain't never really look at that one." Later in the book we see the same concept in Mr. _______'s son, Harpo, whose attitude to Squeak when he is distracted at the news of Sofia's imprisonment, is that he simply "looks through her head, blow smoke."
- Word count: 1404
-
Explore the treatment of racism in one story from "Contemporary short stories".
Thebedi, the daughter of a poor black farmhand (working for Paulus' father), interact freely without guilt or secrecy as society does not yet influence or affect their thoughts of each other, reality has not yet seeped into their world. But as they reach the beginning of adolescence they begin to comprehend the concept of the 'separating line', the stereotypical qualities that divide one race from the other. I think the author uses gender to initiate the 'master, servant' mentality. The writer, Nadine Gordimer gives Thebedi the role of a woman, which in society is considered 'weaker' than that of a man, Paulus.
- Word count: 1027
-
Maya Angelou - I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
This must have been a terrible experience for a young child to go through, which some may think would have left Maya with resentment towards her mother. In fact this was quite the opposite. When Maya meet her mother again after she left her, Maya discarded the fact that she sent her away. She describes how as soon as she saw her mother, the nights she spent crying for her was forgotten. 'I knew immediately why she had sent me away. She was too beautiful to have children.'(Maya Angelou, 1984, P58) This was Maya's way of justifying her mother actions.
- Word count: 1140
-
This report is based on comparing six different documents.
3.0 Findings I found by looking at each prospectus there were similar elements between them and also that they were similar to one another. I saw all that all prospectuses have had information on courses. I noticed that all the application forms were laid out the same they all used boxes all application forms use boxes because it makes the forms look better. 3.1 Prospectus Spelthorne collage The first document I collected was a prospectus from Spelthorne collage I got the prospectus by ordering it on-line from www.spelthorne.ac.uk but it can also be picked up from Spelthorne collage in Ashford.
- Word count: 4493
-
How do the stylistic conventions of Pleasantville Help to anchor the ideas suggested by the plot and Reinforce the meaning of the text.
Then when the lighting strikes at that time this causes suspicion to the audiences mind. The 2 pairs of siblings argue at the same time in real life and on screen. David and Jennifer then end up in the program. Pleasantville is all black and white to start. Examples of life are: big family, big breakfast, cat up a tree, skip Martian (high school jock), basketball team always wins, nothing outside Pleasantville, characters lack understanding and can only follow what asked to do. The first change is when bud implies to Skip that Mary sue won't go out with him.
- Word count: 1250
-
Comparison of own improvisation with " The Colour Purple".
I found out that the majority of the people affected were molested in their childhood/early teens. Most of them were na�ve and not fully aware of what was going on around them. A large amount was in a single parent family. I also found out that the experience had an immense effect on their adult life. Most are not able to have a sex life, they rely on anti-depressants, self-harm etc. I think that it was harder to cope for abused women in " the Colour Purple" because they had no one and no-where to run away to, whereas today women can call help-lines etc.
- Word count: 940
-
"Inconceivable" by Ben Elton - book review.
About The Author Ben Elton was born on 3 May 1959, in Catford, South London to a distinguished academic family. Ben's father and uncle were professors at Surrey and Cambridge. Ben was the youngest of four; he went to Godalming Grammar School, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play at 15. He wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead did A-Level Theatre Studies and studied drama at Manchester University in 1977. After graduating in 1980, he started on his career as a stand-up comedian, and by early 1981 had joined Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson at the Comedy Store in London.
- Word count: 2893
-
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou.
Where she feels unwanted and her self esteem lowers. She also reveals that she was raped at the age of 8 by her mother's boyfriend; this is a memory that never leaves her mind for instance whenever anybody says they love her she thinks of that moment and doesn't know what to do. This book also concentrates on the wide amount of racism that has gone on from the 1930s onwards; she talks about how when working for a rich white woman called Mrs Cullinan how Mrs Cullinan and her friends changed her name to Mary as they found that Marguerite was long.
- Word count: 821
-
The opening credit sequence of 'The Sopranos'.
Throughout the series, Tony has many crises of faith and a few attacks of conscience. Thus the black may reflect Tony's dark side, with his underhand dealings and deadly intent, and the white may represent Tony's faith, his belief in Catholicism and his need to do good in some form. However as the graphics show the black impedes on the white possibly illustrating the fact that Tony has a great struggle between right and wrong. To analyse the typography of the sequence it is again possible to find meaning implicitly embedded in it.
- Word count: 1965
