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The Color Purple-Celie

 

            Celie developed a lot during the course of the book, The Color Purple. In the beginning of the novel Celie's character was subservient, almost unable to function in everyday life. However, toward the end of the book Celie's attitude was independent and self-confident. When the story started Celie's life was one nobody would long for. She lost her mother, was raped by her step-father (whom she thought was her real father), had two children at a very young age which were taken away from her, and her first relationship with a man was filled with verbal abuse and an unhappy sexual experience. .
             Celie's only comment about her haunting sexual encounters was allowing either Pa or Mr._________ to, "Git up there and enjoy himself just the same. No matter what I"m thinking. No matter what I feel. It just him. Heart feeling don't even seem to enter into it."(69). This shows that Celie has no respect for herself and would not even consider sticking up for herself. Celie's behavior began to change when she felt resentment for the first time in her life. She found all the letters her sister Nettie had written to her in a chest that Mr. _________ had. The first time Celie ever showed dignity in herself was when she approached Mr. ________ and said, "You a lowdown dog is what's wrong It's time to leave you and enter into the creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need" (207). .
             There are a few symbolic notions in the book that show more of Celie's development. The fact that Celie becomes self-sufficient by beginning to sew pants says a lot. She is finally doing something on her own that shows financial independence and her sewing pants shows an attainment of masculinity, especially since a large portion of the book's men are portrayed as dominant, and mostly over women. She is, little by little, becoming more at ease with the idea of supporting herself and doing things on her own.
            
            


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