Where Is the Color Purple

Alice Walker is one of my favorite Africa American female writers. When I read her books, I think about the history of America. Her stories are related with local African American female community. Especially, I like “The Color Purple” because her characters represent isolated woman and it exist everywhere. I watch the movie version, but I like the book than the movie. At the first time, the beginning of the book is not easy to read because I see Celie’s sadness. However, she tried to find her identity, and she independence from male domination. Walker is not only deal with women’s miserable like under male society, but she also points out segregation in black community. 

                “The Color Purple” is a narrative story about modern black female life in local community. Walker explains women’s society through Celie’s life and growth in her book. Some of her opponents blame her writing because she describes one detailed in negative side of local community. Celie is abused by her stepfather and husband by physically and sexually. She lost her child from her stepfather, and she gets married with Mr. instead of her sister. She is not pretty and educated. Celie takes care of house, and she works outside of field as a man. She has no voice about her thinking that she can’t choose her dress color. She likes purple not brown. She doesn’t how to fight like Sophia. 

                There are several female characters in “The Color Purple” that they described different black women, but they have similarity. Sophia is not fit on the role of traditional women who follow man’s order. She likes work outside of field, but her husband, Harpo, likes work hose chore. Sophia’s life is similar to Celie that she struggles with her father, brother, and husband. Her strongest character is problem to Harpo, so he over eats to make his body bigger than her. Another female character is Shug who represent modern woman. Shug is Celie’s role model because Shug represents freedom. She is not belonging to man’s order, and she wears red cloth which is Celie wants to wear. Shug is menthol of Celie to find her identity as a woman. Celie tries to learn how to read and write, and she voices up her opinion in front of her husband. After she is changed, her world becomes different. 

                Why Walker make the title purple? I think that it can be found in everywhere. She wants to describe normal life, but we used to miss. Red is symbol of independence life, so Shug gives her red dress to Celie. Celie always hides her smile because she thinks that she is not beautiful. Woman’s sufferings come from many social rules; however, they should find their agenda like Celie. I see her identity, own culture, and social position in “The Color Purple” as a modern woman.