Sanchana Animisha
1313247
Prof.Arya
American Literature
3PSEng
28 August 2014
Symbolisms-The Color
Purple by Alice Walker
Symbolism is the
utilization of images or symbols to imply thoughts and qualities by
providing for them typical implications that are unique in relation
to their strict sense. Symbolisms have different forms.They convey
the deeper meaning.They can be obvious and very subtle but they
represent abstract ideas or concepts.The novel 'Color Purple' was
written by Alice Walker in 1982.The story belongs to an uneducated
black women's sufferings and her quest for happiness and love.It
depicts the sexual violence faced by black women in 20th centuary.
In this novel symbolisms
play a very important role.Here are few symbolisms used in color
purple.To start with the word 'purple' in the title is itself used as
a symbolism.The shade purple speaks to all the great things on the
planet that God makes for men and ladies to delight in.In the
beginning of the book celie's charector is in contrast to color
purple.She has a ghastly life where she never took time to enjoy and
live the little wonderful things in life which god created for
us.Shug explains the essence of these things to celie using color
purple.She says that god created such beautiful things like color
purple to make us recognize the magnificence of his creation.. Shug
instructs Celie that getting a charge out of life is precisely what
God needs us to do; its a method for communicating our adoration for
God. As Celie does figure out how to love life, she beautifies her
room in her own particular home as all purple and red.
Her change into a full,
unoppressed lady is symbolized by 'Pants'. Here Pants,are used as a
symbol of liberation from patriarchy and sexism as well as economic
liberation.As Celie not only starts wearing pants which were actually
considered as men's attire in patiarchal society but also starts a
business of manufacturing pants.This shows her break free from
patriarchal society.
'God' is used as a very
important symbolism in the novel.In the beginning of the novel, Celie
sees God as her listener and support, yet Celie does not have a clear
understanding of who God is.Halfway through the book, in a discussion
with Shug, Celie that she sees God as a white man with a beard. Shug
helps her to understand that god is someone with no gender and
form.She asks her to consider god as 'it' rather than 'his or her'.
At one point of time Celie stops believing in god as she stops
writing to him but again at the end she writes to him this shows that
not only does Celie see God as part of nature, but as omnipresent
everywhere and in everything including her fellow human beings.
Symbols do move their
implications relying upon the connection they are utilized within. "A
chain", for instance, may remained for "union" and
also "detainment". Hence, typical significance of an item
or an activity is seen by when, where and how it is utilized. It
likewise relies on upon who understands them.So in this novel
symbolisms used might not have an universal meaning it is upto us to
understand the context they are used and their depth in coveying the
meaning.Symbolisms used in a novel makes it a beautiful literary
piece.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "The
Color Purple." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11
Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Aug. 2014.
Walker, Alice. The Color
Purple: A Novel. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.
Print.
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