Essay: Celie and Hooks: Themes of Powerlessness and Oppression in "The Color Purple"

"The Color Purple" - Book Themes

The Color Purple" by author Alice Walker addresses many themes that are common to the everyday experience of women. The major theme throughout the book is that of power and powerlessness. Female power and independence is represented by Sug, the independent, strong willed jazz singer and flapper who is not willing to rely on a man for any reason other than sex. Powerlessness and oppression are represented by Celie, a 14 year old African American girl, molested, raped and impregnated by her own father, and then forced into a marriage with a man twice her own age, only known in the book as Mr.___

"From the very beginning of the book Celie is beaten and abused. She states "He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy at Church. I may have got something in my eye but I didn't wink. I don't look at mens" (Walker, p.5). This abuse leaves Celie powerless and she is so oppressed by her father's abuse that she is no longer capable of seeing herself as either capable or intelligent. She escapes only find out that she is in a relationship that is just as abusive as the father-daughter relationship that she had left.

As the novel progresses we see Celie develop a close friendship with Sug, this relationship helps Celie to move from powerlessness and oppression to having a sense of power and independence. The reader sees this as they view her gradually discarding the abusive Mr.____ and moving into a caring relationship with Celie. We see her move from being utterly dependent first on her father and then her husband to running her own successful business and being a well respected matriarch.

In "Taking Women Students Seriously" Adrienne Rich writes about how the sexism and racism inherent in our culture, can make women feel powerless and oppressed. She argues that this powerlessness is both gendered, and integrated into our culture. Rich would argue that Celie is a victim because the sexist and racist ideology she was raised with taught her that she did not deserve to learn or to grow, or even to exist. Bell would also argue that Celie learned from her early experiences with her father and her husband taught her that she does not "have the right to exist."

Rich states "I would suggest that not biology, but ignorance of our selves, has been the key to our powerlessness." (p.240). What this means is that culture teaches us that we are worthless except in how we are perceived by men. This perspective teaches us to be aware of how men perceive us, but, tells us to ignore how we perceive ourselves. Women are not expected to learn and grow and to be themselves outside their relationship with men. This sense of powerlessness is often seen in literature about women such as "The Color Purple" Celie was powerless because she was ignorant of her inner self. She did not have any true understanding of who she was, or that she was an intelligent and capable human being until Sug arrived in her life and helped her to learn about who she was.

This statement by Rich can also be interpreted to mean that women are vulnerable to societal influences just like any other human being, and when societal influences are telling them that they are worthless and powerless, than that is what they become, no matter how much education, or experience they have that tells them otherwise.

What is quote means from a personal perspective is that I cannot buy into what others tell me about myself. The only road to self knowledge, is to believe in oneself, and one's abilities and capability. This means not buying into what society tells me I should be because I am a member of a specific race, or gender and trusting in myself. This quote can also means that I should not allow myself to be limited by my gender or my race. Biology is not destiny, and I can become anyone I choose to.

In terms of my education here at Alverno College, Rich's essay means that I must set goals for myself with the intention of meeting them. This also means that I must look at my education here with the understanding that college, is not the real world. However; much like an equal professors and administration may treat me here at school, there will be those in the real world who will think less of me, denigrate me, or who will seek to keep my powerless because of my race, gender, religion or sexual preferences. Because I understand this, I need to use this time to develop the skills that I will need once I have completed college as well as the ability to work hard and to handle criticism made by others who make assumptions about my based on my gender, race, religion or sexual preference.

In conclusion, Celi in "The Color Purple" represents the powerlessness and oppression that all women experience in an overwhelmingly male dominated society. Rich would argue that Celie has been kept in ignorance about herself and this is why she is seen as powerless until she meets Sug and takes control of her own life. Rich's quote means that women have been kept in the dark about themselves because they have been taught to see themselves as powerless by a male dominated society. From a personal perspective and insofar as my education here at Alverno is concerned, this means I have to recognize this fact, and accept that college is not the real world in order to prepare myself for what I will face once I graduate.

References

Adrienne, R. Taking Women Students Seriously . In A. Rich, On Lies Secrets and
Silence (pp. 237-245). New York : W.W. Norton.
Walker, A. The Color Purple . New York : Harcourt Brace.