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The Color Purple

 

            
            
            
            
             The Color Purple, by Alice Walker is a historical novel showing how an uneducated, fourteen-year-old black girl living in rural Georgia between 1910 through 1940 can overcome years of abuse and betrayal, and become an independent, confident woman. Celie faces racism and sexism, female relationships and the disruption of traditional gender roles. Celie has strength and endurance, is able to love unconditionally, and is in constant search for truth. Celie never gives up faith. .
             Racism and Sexism are a major issue today as it was before. The Color Purple is set in Rural Georgia during 1910 through 1940. Racism is a main issue in the novel. One example is when Sofia is out with the children, and just then the mayor and his wife come by. The mayor's wife asks Sofia to work for her, and be her maid. Sofia says, "Hell no." The mayor's wife can't believe what Sofia has said to her and her husband pushes his wife aside and slaps Sofia. During this time period of time, it is considered right for Sofia, a black woman to be a maid. She should be honored to be the maid of the mayor. The consequences for a black person disobeying a white authority figure would be severe. The mayor and his wife put Sofia to work in the prison laundry all day long. It is clearly racism that lands Sofia in jail. Soon after, she is sent to live with the mayor and be his maid for twelve years. Sofia is great to the family. Sofia teaches Miz Millie how to drive and when Miz Millie finally knows how, she wants to bring Sofia to visit her family. What a kind gesture. Sofia gets into the front seat, as always, but Miz Millie starts to laugh. Miz Millie says to Sofia, "Have you ever seen a white person and a colored sitting side by side in car, when one of "em wasn't showing the other one how to drive it or clean it" (Walker 109). A different example of racism is when Eleanor Jane brings her baby boy for Sofia to bless. Sofia tells her she cannot bless him, for he will probably grow up to be her oppressor, like most white men.


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