The Color Purple by Alice Walker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Color Purple by Alice go-cart - Essay ExampleBiographical information Alice Walkers birthplace was in Eatonton, a small city in Georgia. Her father (Willie Lee Walker) was basically a farmer, and her m other(a) (Minnie Lou Walker), a maid. Unlike other African American parents during forties in America, Walkers mother was interested in her daughters cultivation. She did not allow her daughter to be a worker in the farm or to work as a maid. Instead, she tried her level best to provide proper education to her daughter. One can see that Walkers future life was deeply influenced by her mothers decision to lead her towards education. Stephanie Fitzgerald states that, From the time she was young, Alice knew that the world was a different place for a black child in the South than it was for a white child anywhere (22). So, Walker completed her school education. Later, she decided to continue her education and accompanied Spelman College and another college named as Sarah Lawrence C ollege. When she was a college student, she got attracted towards social activism and this changed her life. For instance, Walkers activism related to the Civil Rights Movement in America is noteworthy. Besides, Walker considered that anti-war protest/activism was important to exposit her service to the needy. Walkers personal life proves that she was ready to accept diversity. For instance, she married Leventhal in the year 1967. One can see that this marriage was ultra because Walker is an African American and Leventhal, a Jew. On the other side, Walker provided ample importance to her career as a writer because she knew that dealing with ruin issues in the society is not different from social activism. Plot The Color Purple The novels plot is interconnected with the sad plight of an African American female child in the American society. The narrator of the novel, named as Celie, faces a number of problems in her family. Celie was helpless because her parents did not try to pr ovide proper education to her. Besides, she was forced to undergo sexual exploitation from her step-father. Katharina Eder makes clear that, At the beginning of the story the reader learns, how Celie, then a 14 year old girl is raped by her, then thought to be father(5). Eventually, her mother dies and her father became uncontrollable. Her father did not allow Celies sister (Nettie) to marry Mr. Johnson. Instead, Celies father forces her to marry Mr. Johnson. Within this context, Celies personal life became more problematic because Mr. Johnson treated her as a slave, not as his wife. At Mr. Johnsons home, Sofia (Mr. Johnsons sons wife) taught Celie that women must not subdue to men. Once, Mr. Johnsons lover (say, Shug Avery) happens to be ill and undergoes bed rest at their home. Gradually, Celie gets attracted towards Shug. On the other side, Sofia was not ready to be under the control of her husband and she deserts her husband. In addition, Shug began to interfere into Celies pers onal matters and helped her to shaft more about her sister. Later, Celie happens to know that her sister is alive and is working with a missionary in Africa. Besides, Celie