Abstract
This paper is a look at the life, struggle, and victories of Celie in the novel, "The Color Purple" by African-American author, Alice Walker. The paper shows that, through Celie, Alice Walker is able to criticize the way some black women were treated in the early 20th century and uses Celie's life experiences to express her social criticism.

From the Paper
"Some critics view that Shug and Celie's relationship encourages lesbianism as a solution to the problems Black women face with their men; however, it is obvious that Walker's purpose of their relationship is much deeper than that (River 223). Shug and Celie did not have an explicit, erotic relationship. Celie simply needed to feel loved and wanted."

Tags:danny, domestice, oprah

Abstract
The paper explains how the author uses her main character Celie's uneven language development as a means to illustrate and underscore Celie's poor self-confidence and sense of self. The paper highlights how the author portrays Celie's gradual ego development and ultimate satisfaction through her successful sewing business. The paper describes Celie as both an abused and a neglected child, and then an adolescent with nowhere to turn in order to express herself. The paper shows how the readers share the pain and the triumphs of Celie's linguistic and other developmental processes. The paper concludes that Celie is Walker's narrative voice of the long-silenced African-American woman.

From the Paper
" Alice Walker in her novel The Color Purple (1982) uses her main character Celie's uneven language development, as a means to illustrate and underscore Celie's initially poor self-confidence and sense of self, and then, slowly, Celie's ego development and ultimate satisfaction and self-actualization, through her successful sewing business. Celie's initial use of language, within the first part of the story, is the verbal equivalent of halting, hesitant baby steps. Later on, though, after much hardship and humiliation, and with much verbal support and encouragement from friends like Shug and Sophia, Celie learns to speak with much greater confidence and language fluency. I will describe how Celie's use of language within The Color Purple underscores both her struggles and her character development throughout the story."

Tags:african-american, abuse, self-confidence

Abstract
This paper examines how in Alice Walker's novel, "The Color Purple", the reader experiences an uplifting journey through the lives of two abused southern sisters who attempt to stay in communication despite being separated by the Atlantic Ocean. The story is written in the first person, alternating between Celie in America and Nettie in Africa. In particular, mainly focusing on Celie, the paper looks at how the novel expresses her revitalization through the theme of sexism as with the powerful female bonds that the woman develops throughout the work. The paper also discusses how Celie begins the novel as a weak, emotionless fourteen year old child and how, through the help of her friends Sophia and Shug and with the letters from her sister Nettie, Celie transforms into a self-sufficient, confident woman by the end of the novel.

From the Paper
"Being a feminist novel, The Color Purple provokes readers to look beyond oppression caused by whites to blacks and to see that Celie endures severe beatings from her black husband Mr. as well as being raped and impregnated by her black step-father (Scholl). These men are the source of her emotional numbness because they dehumanize her by treating her as though she is worth nothing to the world despite all of the hard work she does as a housewife. Yvonne Johnson writes, "The powerlessness Walker's women feel is often reaffirmed by the physical abuse they endure in their marriages," (Johnson). Celie does not allow herself to feel as she sinks lower into the feeling of powerlessness because the pain would be extremely excruciating. Thus, the young woman drives herself into a state of numbness as she is forced to live with Mr. and care for his obnoxious, uncouth children."

Tags:Sophia, Shug, Nettie

Abstract
This paper shall compare and contrast the characters of Celie and Nettie in Alice Walker's novel, "The Color Purple". This comparison shall be created through the use of the "point by point" method, where independent aspects of each character are first presented and then compared and contrasted.

Abstract
In Alice Walker's classic novel, "The Color Purple", the characters of Celie, Shug Avery and Sophie all manifest inner strength which allows them to transform their difficult lives into ones that are more beneficial for their personal well- being. This paper shall examine these three women in order to demonstrate how inner strength is found in all three, yet that Walker created these characters as individuals in order to convey the unique sense of personal strength in each one.

Abstract
The essay shows the similarities between the characters of Shug and Celie despite the apparent differences in their natures. The essay follows their personal growth which is brought upon by their friendship and is completed only after they part ways.

From the Paper
"Celie depended upon Shug for unconditional love and self-assurance. Being constantly told she was ugly and worthless had a tremendous effect on Celie and literally robbed her of her self-esteem and self worth. "She ugly...She ain't smart either" (Walker 9). This type of verbal abuse was a constant theme throughout Celie's life. She was forced, at the hands of society, to keep her feelings to herself. She kept her feelings so well buried in the confines of her mind that she began to compare herself to a piece of wood. Not until Shug came around and showed her some true human affection could she finally begin to break free of the chains that bound her and began to reveal the true loving, strong, independent woman she truly was. Such pure affection opened Celie's heart and soul to the true meaning of love, which in turn allowed her to understand and give love to another, as well as, love herself. And once Celie began to love herself, she was able to begin spreading her love to everything and everyone around her."

Tags:race, color, inhibition, friendship, whore, temptress, independence

Abstract
The paper presents a short literary analysis of the book "The Color Purple", written by Alice Walker. The paper explores the story, the meaning and the themes that run through the book and argues that the book presents an argument about the cyclic nature of racism and sexism.

From the Paper
" Throughout history many authors have used their works to convey a message or idea to the reader. Sometimes this is a purposeful act of writing and other times it simply conveys such things as a by product of telling the story. Such is the case with Alice Walker's The Color Purple. As she tells the story of several Black women in one family setting as the story unfolds the reader can easily trace the themes of sexism and racism and the cyclic nature of them both in society."

Tags:black, women, abusers, victims, of, abuse, dignity

Abstract
This paper discusses how in "The Color Purple", Walker follows one woman's journey to become a womanist. The novel dictates the letters written by a poor black woman, Celie, living in rural Georgia in the early 1900s. The paper looks at how, abused and belittled by her father and husband, Celie does not have an identity of her own. Instead, Celie behaves according to the stereotypical gender roles of the time and how the latter men define her. Although many readers assume Celie transforms simply as she ages, it is not until Celie befriends other women, that she begins to find her own voice. In particular, the paper looks at how Celie's relationships with her daughter-in-law, Sofia, and her lover, Shug Avery, allow her to develop her own identity and resist the passivity and self-doubt caused by the male subordination of women.

From the Paper
"One can better understand Celie's behavior throughout the novel when it is examined according to B.F. Skinner's operant behavior philosophy. Skinner argues that, "behavior is affected by its consequences," and, thus, that, "the punished person henceforth acts in ways which reduce the threat of punishment and which are incompatible with, and hence take the place of, the behavior punished"(1). Celie learned from infancy that by defying a man, she would be beaten or possibly killed. Therefore, in order to survive, Celie assumes she must be submissive to all men. After Albert's sister tells Celie that she should stand up for herself, Celie says, "I think bout Nettie, dead. She fight, she run away. What good it do? I don't fight, I stay where I'm told. But I'm alive"(Walker Color Purple 21). Celie sees how her sister's rebellion seems to have caused her death, and, thus remains passive in order to survive. Skinner's analysis of human behavior not only explains Celie's submission, but also her eventually triumph over her oppressors. "

Tags:celie, Sofia, Shug, Avery

Abstract
This paper reviews the novel, "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, and looks at how the characters relational identity towards one another plays a significant role in the development of each character. Specifically, it looks at how the relationships between Celie and the other characters begins to define her and change her throughout the novel. It shows how relationship between Celie and Shug Avery is the focus from early on in the book, as is the relationship between Celie and her sister, Nettie.

From the Paper
"The characters relational identity towards one another in The Color Purple played a significant role in the development of each character. Specifically, the relationships between Celie and the other characters begin to define her and change her throughout the novel. The relationship between Celie and Shug Avery is the focus from early on in the book as well as the relationship between Celie and her sister, Nettie. Once Nettie's letters are found some of the focus returns back towards Nettie."

Tags:avery, celie, relationships, shug, nettie

Abstract
This paper discusses the story of "The Color Purple", an emotional and inspiring story of Celie, a woman who has faced nothing but abuse and violence in her life. It examines the significance of reawakening in the work and how as the novel progresses, Celie experiences a reawakening of her self-worth which propels her life in a new direction. It evaluates how this reawakening could not have happened without her letters, her spirituality and the input of people like Sofia.

From the Paper
"Celie's sister Nettie is really the catalyst for Celie's transformation. She writes to Nettie when she has no one else in the world. It is Nettie who she looks up to, and Nettie who has gotten away from the family and made her own successful life. Nettie is one of only two people Celie has allowed herself to love, which makes her all the more important. It is through her letters to Nettie that she first begins to understand herself, and start on the path toward her reawakening. When she finds out Albert has been hiding Nettie's letters, she has gained the strength to stand up to him."

Tags:letters, abuse, violence, reawakening, celie, nettie, sofia