In this novel, Alice Walker shares with us the lifetimes of two remarkable sisters who are separated as teenagers. The Color Purple is inspiring and brings up various points that are wrong with the world. Celie and Nettie both suffer racial & gender inequality, as well as experiences with religious views that added to the difficulties of life growing up.
Gender inequality was a main issue in situations where both sisters were discriminated against by others although they were on different continents. Each of them experienced problems where women had restrictions on what they could do. At home, Celie was looked down upon by her husband and discriminated against indirectly.
Gender inequality was a main issue in situations where both sisters were discriminated against by others although they were on different continents. Each of them experienced problems where women had restrictions on what they could do. At home, Celie was looked down upon by her husband and discriminated against indirectly.
“Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr._____ say, Cause she my wife.” (22)
This powerful statement is a prime example to why gender inequality made Celie’s life so hard as she was growing up, almost like he beat her so badly to where she was his little robot.
In Africa, Nettie lived in a village as a missionary who taught young girls and boys. She quickly learned that women were basically nothing without a man.
In Africa, Nettie lived in a village as a missionary who taught young girls and boys. She quickly learned that women were basically nothing without a man.
“The Olinka do not believe girls should be educated. When I asked a mother why she thought this, she said: A girl is nothing to herself; only to her husband can she become something.”(155)
By this, we can tell the Olinka village is kind of just like the American society but more straight forward with their feelings towards gender inequality. Usually women think it is wrong, but the Olinka women are okay with it and this bothers Nettie.
Unlike Celie, Nettie was directly discriminated against by the men and women villagers in Africa.
Unlike Celie, Nettie was directly discriminated against by the men and women villagers in Africa.
“Do not be offended, Sister Nettie, but our people pity women such as you who are cast out.” (161)
Here, Nettie is told directly that she is looked down upon by the men and women of the village because they pity her. She is probably stricken by surprise by this statement but she remains mature about the situation.
Racial inequality is another thing both sisters experience. In this case, Celie sees it indirectly while Nettie lives through it directly. While in Africa, Nettie witnesses the Olinka village overran by black people under white control. They destroy everything in the village while the Olinka try to fight back but can’t. Nettie didn’t get hurt in this situation, but she was greatly affected by this because she was living in the village and at the same time was trying to prove a point that she would not just abandon the village like other missionaries. Celie, on the other hand, went through a less intense version of racial inequality. She saw Sofia being Miss Millie’s maid. She noticed how Sofia never smiled, and was miserable. Although these two situations were not intense as each other, they still count as examples of racial inequality. In the end, Nettie overcame racial inequality but not gender inequality. On the contrary, Celie overcame gender inequality, but not racial.
Finally, the religious/spiritual views between the sisters are broadly the same. They both believe in Christianity. The difference between the two sisters and Christianity is that Celie really only uses God to vent and as someone to talk to because she was threatened to.
Racial inequality is another thing both sisters experience. In this case, Celie sees it indirectly while Nettie lives through it directly. While in Africa, Nettie witnesses the Olinka village overran by black people under white control. They destroy everything in the village while the Olinka try to fight back but can’t. Nettie didn’t get hurt in this situation, but she was greatly affected by this because she was living in the village and at the same time was trying to prove a point that she would not just abandon the village like other missionaries. Celie, on the other hand, went through a less intense version of racial inequality. She saw Sofia being Miss Millie’s maid. She noticed how Sofia never smiled, and was miserable. Although these two situations were not intense as each other, they still count as examples of racial inequality. In the end, Nettie overcame racial inequality but not gender inequality. On the contrary, Celie overcame gender inequality, but not racial.
Finally, the religious/spiritual views between the sisters are broadly the same. They both believe in Christianity. The difference between the two sisters and Christianity is that Celie really only uses God to vent and as someone to talk to because she was threatened to.
“You better not never tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy.”(1)
This is why Celie writes to god, because later on in the book she stops writing to him because she is no longer afraid of her Dad. Nettie really does believe in God though. She uses Christianity to help others, like the Olinka children. She spreads the gospel and studies it throughout her lifetime.
Overall, this book teaches us how women were and sometimes still are looked down upon, how being white gave authority, and that people turn to religion for different reasons. Looking closely at the situation, he two sisters lived fairly similar lives, just experienced differently. But in the end, both of them became much stronger.
Overall, this book teaches us how women were and sometimes still are looked down upon, how being white gave authority, and that people turn to religion for different reasons. Looking closely at the situation, he two sisters lived fairly similar lives, just experienced differently. But in the end, both of them became much stronger.
