AMERICAN LITERATURE CIA

-          MISHANKA ODOYOTH
1313237

TOPIC: The social integration of women.

To be a woman, it is said, is to be a curse in society and to be a black woman, even worse. Gender differences have existed since time immemorial and with the growth of racism; it has only become more difficult for a woman to live in peace. The story Colour Purple encapsulates the life of a black woman Celie. She in general represents the atrocities faced by all black women, the physical abuse, the sexual abuse, the discrimination and their status in society.

The theme of integration among this ‘weaker sex’ is extremely evident throughout the story. It is a support system that exists to help the women cope with their daily troubles. In Celie's world where they were undoubtedly suppressed by men in every way possible, the company of other women provided them with an encouraging forum to voice their opinions and speak their mind. Through this they would learn how each woman dealt with the problem and empathise with one another. The friendship that existed between two females with reference to the story built confidence and mutual trust. It provided strength and mutual support. Once they had this support for each other it became easier reaching out to the masses that were in pain and suffering, including other women.
There was always comfort in the solidarity and understanding that gave women the peace and scope to vent out, lest they would be driven insane. Not only did they educate themselves each time they communicated, but also slowly built strength to overcome their biggest obstacle, man. We see in the story when Celie decides to leave Mister Albert with the help of Shug and all the other women in her life. The integration between women occurs in various ways, or manifests itself in various relationships. They could be motherly, sisterly, sexual, loving, that of a mentor and pupil, and sometimes just plain friendship. For example, Celie and Shug had a strong relationship that was sexual, motherly, sisterly and friendly whereas Nettie and Celie had a strong sisterly relationship and the motherly relationship between Nettie and Olivia, the friendship between Nettie and Corrine and the sisterly love between Sofia and Celie. To understand this theme better, references from the story highlight the significance of female integration.

A little over fourteen Celie had already borne two children from her father, and they were taken away from her without even considering her consent or disapproval. She lost her mother, which left her with her sister Nettie. Their bond was like no other. Nettie was all Celie had and probably the only one who loved her for who she was. She educated Celie who was not allowed to, being the older one who had to take care of the household and satisfy her father’s unending needs. Forcefully married to Mister Albert, three of them stayed together when Nettie ran away from home. The two only grew closer hereafter, until Albert threw Nettie out of the house for she resisted his seduction and sexual approaches. Losing Nettie was losing everything and it left Celie lifeless and heartbroken until Shug Avery came along.

Shug was a performer who Albert wished to marry, but they never really did, in spite of the obvious passion they shared. Shug soon became Celie’s pillar of strength. Strong willed and dominating in her approach she had Mister Albert under her finger. She taught Celie to be strong, to be self-sufficient and to stand up for what she believed in. She reunited Celie with Nettie by discovering the letters from Nettie Albert hid from Celie. Reunited with Nettie, Shug and she grew extremely close. Shug helped Celie get away from home by standing up to Mister Albert, after which she started her own business of stitching pants in Memphis with Shug.

Harpo, Mister Albert’s son married a hefty woman, Sofia. Though at first Celie caused trouble with Sofia by supporting the view that Harpo should beat her to keep her in check. She soon realised the inherent good qualities in Sofia and Sofia, the strong headed woman that she was taught Celie a good lesson or two about how it was absolutely wrong for a man to hit his wife and how she would not tolerate it. Later in the story, Celie is of great help to Sofia supporting her in overcoming her problems and troubles during her time in jail. Squeak or Mary Agnes, Harpo’s second wife, got along well with Celie and Sofia, in spite of an initial tussle between the two. They together, Shug, Celie, Squeak, and Sofia along with their immediate family if any formed a tight knit and helped each other in every way possible.

In the latter half of the story Nettie describes to us how she takes the help of Corrine who has, by the play of the universe, Celie’s children, the ones that were given away. Corrine and her husband, Samuel, are very supportive of Nettie and try to include her in everything they do. They take her along to Africa to help with the missionary work where Nettie sees a different form of life and experiences and witnesses the closeness and integrity of the people of Africa, especially the women. She later introduces us to a white woman missionary, Doris Baines. This white woman did the work Nettie, Samuel and Corrine (who passed away) did. They provide relief to Africa and help educate the tribes. Further, when we learn of Corrine’s story through Samuel, we are made aware of Corrine’s aunt Theodosa who stayed in the Spelman seminary started by two white female missionaries who used to dress identically. These ladies, by amassing finance from the wealthy men in America developed buildings and planted more trees. They ensured female education including reading, writing etc. Through this we see that not only were the black women forming a support system of their own, but also were accompanied by empathetic white women. They were reaching out beyond their means to provide coloured women with a proper education, because a financially secure woman, like Shug, and later Celie, could not be messed with, for she would be in control of her life.
All in all it can be concluded that if it weren't for the role of the other women, especially Shug, Celie would have never achieved a sense of fulfillment and independence. This stands true in the case of all the women.

REFERENCES: -The novel The Colour Purple
                           - SparkNotes: The Color Purple: Themes, Motifs & Symbols

                                  www.sparknotes.com
                                 - The Color Purple Summary

                                  www.shmoop.com

                                   

                                 - Some Letters Went to God

                                  www.nytimes.com
https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEkQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sosyalarastirmalar.com%2Fcilt5%2Fcilt5sayi23_pdf%2Ftanritanirbulent_yaseminaydemir.pdf&ei=pWn_U7WLHNGzuATOmoKICw&usg=AFQjCNGb6QQZJPTr7wK075Jcz-nkezh1TQ&bvm=bv.74035653,d.c2E

www.google.co.in