Discuss Alice Walker's presentation of the plight of women in a mans' world in "The Color Purple".

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Selina Esscopri

English Literature coursework

The Color Purple By Alice Walker

Discuss Alice Walker’s presentation of the plight of women in a mans’ world in “The Color Purple”

Throughout the story, men mistreat many women. Through the collection of letters that Celie wrote, the reader could see that Celie has struggled for her happiness her entire life. As a positive criticism, Gloria Steinem believes that the reason Celie changes from writing to god to Nettie is because ‘she must tell some one the truth and confirm her existence’.  When she was only a little girl, her stepfather sexually abused her. He than sold her to a man named Albert or Mr._____ who had no intention of loving her, ‘No matter what I feel. It just him’. Mr. _____ verbally and physically abused her. He made her do all the housework and demanded that she took care of his children, ‘they look at me there struggling with Mr._____ children’. If Celie refused, she was punished. In the marriage of Celie and Albert there was no love or devotion. They were just stuck with each other. Celie married Albert because her stepfather told her to and Albert married Celie because he wanted a full time maid. Albert gave orders and Celie like a duty full wife carried out these orders. The women in those days were thought of as something that a man owned. Once the woman was his he was to do what he pleased with her. Celie was to obey him and only him, she was to be with him and only him and did not matter whether he was faithful to her or not. Celie was like a slave. ‘He does his business on top of me’. Celie wrote this in her journal. This shows that having sex wasn’t to deal with love or even passion; it was just Albert doing what he had to do. Through all these traumatizing events, Celie lost respect for her and forgot how to love. Her life was full of darkness, without a single trace of life.

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 However, Celie met a woman named Shug. The relationship between Shug and Celie cuts very deep. Both of them help each other become what they really need to be. Celie depended on Shug for love and security. Being constantly told that she was ugly had affected her; Celies sense of self-esteem was exceedingly low. ‘But what you got? You ugly. You skinny. You shape funny. You too scared to open your mouth to people…. You not that good a cook either…. This house ain’t been clean good since my first wife died. And nobody crazy or backward enough to ...

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