Selection of the primary source

The primary source selected is Color Purple, authored by Alice Walker but later Published in 1982. Through Celie, Walker clearly illustrates that we need to possess the power to say out what is in us so that we can live us our real selves. We further find out that to express self-defense and resist oppression by others, expressing ourselves in this manner could prove much risky. Walker believes that in the interaction among women, the weak or less fortunate will get the courage to express them, and therefore this is a norm that should be widely practiced. It is regardless of the form the relationship may take, as it may be a mother-daughter, sister-sister, teacher-student, or even mentor-student. Walker brings out several violent cases from women, whereby these are clearly depicted as a result of the prevailing circumstances in the society (Trudier Harris-Lopez).

Analysis of the Color Purple

Throughout the book, Walker brings it very clear that ladies and generally all women need friends, which acts as an important tool through which they provide courage to each other by sharing stories, which may be testimonies of what they pass through. Through this, they also hammer solutions for each other and eventually make life more bearable. Tgives ladies the courage to keep off virtues like oppression and dominance, which are the key factors why most couples break up. It ensures that despite the world being filled with male dominance, women get that power to push through I a strong way and also to get away to handle these men. It’s important that there be unity in the society for coexistence (Selzer, Linda).

Studies indicate that female require are more open to fellow women than to men, and therefore relationships among themselves are very important. There have been several established forms of these relationships, where some include mother-daughter, sister-sister, teacher-student, or even mentor-student. There are also sexual relationships among women, though this disputes ethics in society. In The Color Purple, Sofia is quoted saying that she gets the courage to keep pushing through the struggles by gaining energy from the relationship she has with her sisters. She has very strong relationships with them, and they share virtually anything. In return, she gains the much-needed confidence to push through the struggles of life that she has to. This proves to her, and the society around that women too have the power to d great things (Trudier Harris-Lopez). Nettie, who has a relationship with the relationship with Celie, makes life in the strange land of Africa more bearable. To include a man in this observation, we see that Samuel observes that Olinka women are so united that polygamy becomes bearable for them. It occursdespite the fact that this type of marriage irritates most of these women, but their unity, and love for each other, they fight through and persevere.  The type of connection that Celie has with Shug allows her to change for the better, and eventually, she emerges as a lady who has a high level of the sense of self (Jerilyn Fisher).

In this novel, Walker uses her prowess about narrative and voice to express the idea that violence in the society is not a cause of conflict by itself, but is rather caused by conflict. In The Color Purple, the women who find themselves in violence are previously or consequently affected by the womanizer features like sexism, racism, and paternalism. We see Harpo assaulting Sofia physically to feel more of a man, according to his father. His father provokes him to this by depicting in him Sofia’s bold resistance to him makes him be less of a man than he ought to be.  Celie, being jealous of Sofia’s strength and assertiveness, influences Harpo to assault Sofia (Selzer, Linda) physically.

Many characters in the novel break the boundaries of traditional male or female gender roles. Sofia’s strength and sass, Shug’s sexual assertiveness, and Harpo’s insecurity are major examples of such disparity between a character’s gender and the traits he or she displays. This blurring of gender traits and roles sometimes involves sexual ambiguity, as we see in the sexual relationship that develops between Celie and Shug (Trudier Harris-Lopez).

There have been traditional gender roles in society. As then world transforms into more modern society, the line between the female gender roles and the male gender roles grows thinner and thinner as we see more women with the courage to handle masculine tasks, and males more eager to earn the prowess of their mothers and wives (Jerilyn Fisher). At times, this comes with several issues in the society, as the imbalance has to trigger some tectonic forces to act accordingly. Sometimes it causes problems. We observe that when Harpo feels his masculinity threatened, marital issues arise, and he also finds himself physically assaulting Sofia. Also, Shug finds herself being labeled a tramp, due to her strong sexuality. This brings it out that gender and sexuality is a complex matter, different from the simple perception that we often give it. Walker brings out women as men and men as women, which proves to the world that men and women deserve to be treated on an equal measure (Selzer, Linda).

Work Cited

African American Review, Selzer, Linda, ‘Race and Domesticity in The Color Purple’Vol.29, No1, Spring 1985

Trudier Harris-Lopez University of Georgia Press, 2002, ‘South of Tradition: Essays on  African American Literature’

Jerilyn Fisher, Greenwood Press, 2003, ‘Women in Literature: Reading Through the Lens of Gender’