Analysis Of Alice Walker's The Color Purple

Alice Walker’s celebrated classic The Color Purple,(1982) set in 1930’s rural Georgia, chronicles the journey to emancipation and selfhood, of a southern black woman, Celie, who is extremely docile and who submits herself uncomplainingly to every form of violence and trauma. Her only motive is to survive somehow, however degrading her existence might be. Exploited sexually and emotionally by some of her closest male relatives, she is a symbol of the mindless violence and sexism that black men and society unleash on their helpless women. Written in epistolary style, the story unfolds through a series of letters that Celie writes - first to God and then to her sister Nettie.
At the very beginning of the novel The Color Purple one is informed that the major concern of the novelist is the question of female subjugation. At the tender age of fourteen Celie, the protagonist, falls victim to both incest and child molestation. In fact, the very first letter that Celie writes to God indicates the miserable way she becomes a prey to the sexual advances and atrocities of her cruel stepfather. She is born to a large but poor black family. Besides the abusive stepfather, Celie has many younger siblings whom she has to look after. Celie’s helpless mother is sick from all the children she has had. Her husband then turns his attention to Celie. Consequently he makes brutal attacks on her and warns , “You better shut up and get used to it” (2) As a result of her stepfather’s rape she becomes