On The Reconstruction Of Harmonious Communities In The Color Purple

Alice Walker(1944-)is a famous contemporary African American women writer.In 1973,The Color Purple(1972)won her the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for its outstanding contemporary influence and literary achievements,and it became her important masterpiece of black feminist literature.Set in the early 20th century,the novel describes the living state and suffering of Celie under gender oppression,racial discrimination and religious rule.Based on the German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies’ community theory,this thesis analyzes African Americans’reconstruction of the harmonious community of blood,community of place and community of mind in The Color Purple,to explore Walker’s consciousness of community and display her concern for the fate of African Americans.Besides the introduction and conclusion,the thesis consists of three chapters.Chapter one analyzes the reconstruction of African Americans’community of blood.There are two hindering factors in this process:men’s inheritance of patriarchal thoughts and women’s internalization of patriarchal rules.Breaking free from the ideology of patriarchy,African Americans rebuild a community of blood of mutual love and mutual respect.Chapter two analyzes the reconstruction of the African Americans’community of place.African Americans are rejected and marginalized by the white people and African natives.Through selectively accepting the excellent mainstream cultures,inheriting the traditional African cultures,and embracing the dual cultural identity,they build their community of place with a true sense of belonging.Chapter three analyzes the reconstruction of the African Americans’ community of mind.Traditional Christianity hinders the construction of the normal interpersonal relationships among African Americans and the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.By means of subverting the traditional image of God,and establishing the pantheistic belief,African Americans rebuild the community of mind which advocates equality and harmony of all things.Through analyzing African Americans’ reconstruction of more harmonious communities and revealing the theme from individual independence and belonging to the construction of a harmonious community of the whole African American community,this thesis demonstrates that African Americans can find their outlet and build their community of belonging if they overcome the barriers of gender oppression,racial discrimination and religious rule,and truly establish the belief of freedom and equality.