A Womanist Reading Of The Color Purple

Alice Walker is a well-known black female writer and a promoter of womanism.Most of her works are concerned with issues of racial equality and women liberation.And The Color Purple is her most famous novel. The Color Purple (1982), whichreceived the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award in 1983. Since itspublication, the novel has given rise to the interest and attention of many critics andreaders. It is because that it not only refers to the gender discrimination and racialproblems but also involves with the feminism. The novel points out that Patriarchy isthe root of all these problems. And only all the women unite together can they receivethe freedom. Unlike the other feminism, Alice Walker not only calls on the oppressedwomen, but also unites the men who once oppressed them. The thesis is based on thewomanism . The main character achieves mental and economic independence throughconstant fighting, reaching a big harmony between women and men. In this way,womanism provides a new method to deal with gender discrimination and racialproblems.This thesis consists of three parts and mainly analyzes the character Celie andShug and the unique culture from a womanist perspective. The introductionintroduces the author and the storyline of The Color Purple. The first part introducesthe relationship between feminism and womanism. The second part gives a briefintroduction of characterization typical of womanism in The Color Purple. Shug has asisterly love and/or motherly love on other black women and she is often respected asthe role of mediator in the novel. Celie’s womannism reflects on her own fighting forher unfair fate. The third parts mainly deal with three three unique features ofwomanist reflected in The Color Purple. These cultures include the blues music,quilting and the pants-making. Then naturally the fourth part makes a conclusion. Inall, Alice Walker’s womannism overcomes the shortcomings of the feminism andprovides a new angle of view to liberate black women.