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What Is The Alienation In The Color Purple

Decent Essays

“The Color Purple” written by Alice Walker is a story highlighting the values and ideals of the culture and society in beginning of the 20th century where certain types of women are alienated from society due to what they may say, wear, or do. Although all of the women in this book are alienated from society the extent of the alienation is different depending on their actions and how they may be looked upon. Starting off with one person that was specifically alienated from society and gravely hurt due to her action was Sofia Harpos wife. Sofia from the start is a big strong lipped girl raised in a rough environment (Much like many of the women that come out of this story) who primarily doesn’t take smack from anyone, refuses to be hit without …show more content…

Sofia frankly ignored all of these things and although Harpo tried many times to “tame” Sofia but he ended up unsuccessful and bruised up. Sofia’s actions didn’t only affect her but they affected Celie one of the other 4 ladies significant to the story. Celie in a sense was jealous of Sofia. She had the strength and will to stand up to the men where as Celie had no bravery what so ever. Therefore when Sofia finds out about how Celie told Harpo to hit her in order to make her more mindful of the things that she says in response to this Sofia finds pity in Celie who later gathers to strength to be able to revolt against the men that have held her steadfast after watching someone like Shug Avery and Sofia do the same thing. Sofias secondary backlash was what put her into jail. When Sofia became absent from Harpos life he met another girl Squeak who was meek and shy for the most part of her story. When Squeak tries to make trouble with Sofia she is beaten up badly and put in jail happy …show more content…

Shug is a what many would call a loose girl she falls in love a lot and she back talks men a lot much like Sofia does yet the big difference between these two are their images. Sofia is headstrong and tough as where is looked upon less as disrespectful and more as a sex symbol due to her protruding features that are valued by men in the time that this book takes place. Yet Shugs good looks may not be the only thing that allows her to treat the men the way that they treat her. It is also the relationship that she particularly has with Mr.___ or Albert to her. Celie, another character that is treated differently to society based on her looks and actions is treated poorly even as she stays quiet, does chores well , and listens to Mr.___ she never knew Mr ahead of time and he never would love her or want her as much as he wanted Nettie her sister who’s father refused to give her up because of her beauty and brains. Shug had a relationship with Robert when they were much younger so when she yells and curses at him the fact that they used to be “In love.” might overshadow the fact that she’s calling him all these names that Celie never could. In the End of Shugs story she does get away with a lot of back talk due to her skills when it comes to singing, the fact that she’s a sex symbol, and the fact that she’s pretty lead her to get away with more versus Sofia who was less

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