Choose 1 of the Questions below to consider of The Color Purple teaches us something deeper about African American history. In you response, it might make for a really interesting "online discussion" to comment on or piggy back off of a peer's post. Use specific examples from the movie and your knowledge of black life in post-Reconstruction America (Word Limit: 300 words).
- Compare and contrast the problems of Black Americans in the early 1900's with those of modern Black Americans.
- Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why.
- Compare and contrast the different male characters in The Color Purple. What generalizations does Walker make about males?
- Compare and contrast the different female characters in The Color Purple. What generalizations does Walker make about females?
17 comments:
Compare & Contrast the different male characters in The Color Purple. What generalizations does Walker make about males?
~Throughout the movie, the male characters seem to have more power than the females. This movie also highlights the roles of the women and men.In which the women cook, clean, and take care of the babies, jobless, and have no education opportunities. The men roles is mainly working and some tend to abuse their wives. However, by the end of the movie, the men realize the drama they caused and go through a transfromation. There's three important males characters; Alphonso, Mr. also known as Albert, and Harpo.
~Alphonso is Celie's and Nettie's stepfather who rapes and abuses Celie. As a result of the raping, Alphonso fathers Celie's children Adam and Oliva, in which he takes and sell them. He also gives Celie away to get marry Mr./Albert. Throughout, the movie he reminds abusive to Celie. However, Alphonso's the only male character who doesn't realizes the trouble he put Celie through; he doesn't transform into a better person. However, he do remarry, and eventually dies.
~Mr. also known as Albert is the husband of Celie, lover of Shug, and father of Harpo. Throughout, the movie Mr./Albert abuses Celie mentally, and physically. In addition, he also separates Celie and her sister Nettie, and he hides the letters that Nettie writes Celie; making Celie believe her sister's dead. He puts fear in Celie and his children, and repeatly tell Celie she's ugly and dumb. Moreover, he suggests his son Harpo to beat his wife Sofia, so it will be easily to control her. By the end of the movie, Mr./Albert goes through a transformation; when Celie finally leaves him, he realizes all the drama he caused. As a result, he also helps Nettie and Celie's family come to the US, by proceeding in paying the immigration fee. He wands up being alone for the rest of his life.
~Harpo is Albert's son, Celie's son in law, Sofia's husband and Squeak's lover. When having trouble with his wife, he seeks advice from his father;Mr./Albert and mother in law;Celie in which they both tell him to beat her. When that doesn't work his marriage falls apart where Sofia leaves him, and he finds interest in a girl named Squeak also known as his lover. By the end of the movie Harpo realizes the pain he send Sofia through, and the two wand up getting back together, and this time they have a healthy marriage.
These men seem to all mistreat the women in their life, whether they mistreated their daughter or their wife. However, most of them go through a transformation, and realizes the trouble they cause the women is the movie.
2. Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why.
Every novel has a hero. A hero is typically defined as a chief male character in a book, a play or a movie that is identified with good qualities. However in this case, Alice Walker identifies her hero through a woman character in the movie, “The Color Purple”.
The woman that Alice Walker reveals as a hero is Shug Avery, a sultry blues singer who first appears in the scene as an alcoholic mess. However, after bonding with Celie, Shug’s influence not only transformed but also nurtured Celie’s mind into loving her own self. In one of the scene where I believed they were at a bar, Shug publicly dedicated a song to Celie titled “Sister” which proves to Celie that Shug is not ashamed of being seen with her. Later on, when Shug discovered Celie’s insecurities and struggles (beatings) in living with Mr.Johnson, she then taught Celie to genuinely smile and be happy with the way she looks. In addition, when Celie gave up hopes on finding her long lost babies and sister, Nette, Shug then sparks up Celie’s hope but recovering old letters from Nettie in which reveals that Celie’s babies have been found.
In all sense of matter, Shug’s influence brings nothing but positivity to Celie’s life. When Celie began to give up all hopes, Shug comes in and rescued her. She showed her love, comfort, and most importantly hopes. They undergo a sisterly bond. Shug not only helped Celie physically, spiritually, and emotionally, she also does in from her heart. Unlike other characters, Shug Avery reveals a trait that would go through anything to help out a friend that is in need. Her kindness proved her to be a hero. In other words, even though Shug did not make any major impact on society, she still undergoes a process that requires care, time, dedication, and love; traits that add up to “good qualities”.
Compare and contrast the different females characters in The Color Purple.What generalizations does Walker make about the females?
Throughout the film,the females characters were more effeced then the males.The movie diplayed how some of the men and women had important parts in the movie. Such as the men being abusive ,not caring for the women ,and disrespectful to the women .On the other hand women roles were cleaning , cooking,and looking after the kids.At the end of the movie the women have realize that they were stronger then the thought they were.The real main female characters were Celie, Nettie Sofia, Shug , Squeak.
Celie is Nettie’s sister ,the wife of Mr/Albert , and the daughter of Alphonso which who raped and fathered her two children Olivia and Adam that was taken from her by her father and became the new children of other people. Her father is also the man that gives her away to marry Mr/Albert.Throughout the movie she is physically abused by Mr/Albert. Also later on in the movie Nettie returns to Celie and after awhile Mr/Albert separtes Celie and Nettie. And towards the end of the movie Celie stood up to Mr and told him how she felt and and left with Shug and her husband to habe a new life. Lastly at the end she is reunited with Celie is happier then she ever was and she was also reunited to her children Olivia and Adam.
Nettie is Celie’s younger sister, and who Mr initially wanted to marry.She runs away from their father to were Celie was and later leaves from Mr. Then she meet a husband and wife , and later moved with them to Africa, and she becomes the caretaker of the adopted children, which later Nettie finds out that they are Celies children.She’s written lots of letters to Celie but Mr would hide them from her. And at the end she finally reunited with Celie.
Sofia is Harpo’s wife and the mother of his children. While having trouble with her marriage with Harpo she hears that Mr and Celie tell him to beat her. When that idea doesnt work on her Sofia leave Harpo and take all the children with her. Sofia is a strong , independent woman, she refuses to obey whites and men or to anyone else.After talking back to the town’s mayor and hits him Sofia is sentenced to go to jail ,then when she gets out of jail she is forced to be the maid of the mayor. She later returns to her family and children and towards the end of the movie she is back in a relationship with Harpo and happy.
Shug is an old friend of Mr who is his mistress, she gets close to Celie while visiting and she helps Celie find herself , help Celie find her true beauty and she helps her find the letters that Nettie was sending her , and helps her find her independence. She is also a blue singer who writes a song about Celie called “Sister”.She’s also the person that stopped Celie from cutting Mr. She;s also the person that helped Celie find a new life , while taking her with her when she left Mr.
Squeak is Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. She was abused like many of women in the movie. She made a transformation just like Celie. And she demands to be called by her real name which is Mary Agnes
These women were abused and treated harshed which made them stronger. However these women transformed into strong independent women.helpers and they believe that all the trouble they went through made them change.
Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why.
A hero is usually a man who is strong, courageous, and makes a difference in a person’s life; they go out of their way and help with the trials of others. In this case the hero isn’t a male, but a female. In “The Color Purple,” Shug is who I believe is the hero.
Shug is the women who sings jazz, and is also who Mr. Johnson is in love with. At first Celie’s first impression of Shug is that she is rude, and will be just like Mr. Johnson, but as time goes on they grow into a friendship that is inseparable. Celie tries to learn more about Shug when she is bathing, and then Shug sings a song to Celie which starts the beginning of their friendship.
Shug goes out of her way to help Celie in her life. She gets to know Celie, and her life with Mr. Johnson. When she finds that she is being abused, she gives Celie hope to live. Shug teaches Celie how to smile again, and how to enjoy life. Not only does she teach her about happiness, but she shows Celie what Mr. Johnson can’t show her and that is love.
Shug also helps Celie with finding the letters of her sister. Once they find the letters Celie gains strength to stand up for herself at the thanksgiving dinner. Shug tells Mr. Johnson that she is going to take Celie with her no matter what, and that’s when Celie comes in and stands up to Mr. Johnson and lets him realize the truth.
Shug at first may have been the rude, alcoholic but as time passes by her kindness is revealed, and helps Celie in her life. She becomes the hero of Celie.
Explain who you believe is the “hero” of the novel/movie and why?
*During the movie, The Color Purple several characters are introduced. The novel and movie is based on Celie, a young girl who progresses into a woman that was beaten and raped by the ones who she thought loved her. Celie became an adult at the young age when she had her step-father’s second child when she was fourteen. Celie was then given away to a man called Mister (Albert Johnson). He treated Celie as if she was his servant and not his wife. Celie needed a hero, someone to save her. Characters that had a heroic personality and that stood out to me were Celie’s sister Nettie, her step-daughter in law Sofia, and friend Shug Avery.
*Nettie was a hero to her sister and very influential. When Celie and Nettie were separated Nettie repeatedly told Mister that “Nothing but death can keep me from her.” Implying that she would not give up on freeing her sister from her captive life with Mister. Right after her departure, Nettie begins to write letters to her sister, unknowingly to Celie. Celie has no idea that her sister is writing her or that her sister is even still alive. She thinks Nettie forgot about her, but Mister hid Celie’s letters for years.
*Another hero in Celie’s life was her step-son’s wife, Sofia. Sofia was married to Harpo, Mister’s son. Sofia seemed to be the dominant partner in the relationship which bothered Mister. Harpo wanted to change this and when he asked for help from Celie, she told him to beat Sofia. Sofia was furious and confronted Celie about it. Letting Celie know that beating a woman was not the right way to go about things and that she needs to gain respect from the men and not allow Mister to treat her the way he does.
*The other hero I noticed was Shug Avery, which was Misters’ mistress. Shug was mean to Celie at first, she once said to Celie “You sho’ is ugly.” But then Shug begins to have a change of heart. She starts to befriend Celie and after her performance at a nightclub she and Celie play a game of “dress up”. Shug tells Celie to dress in her clothes and look and mirror because she’s pretty. This starts to boost Celie’s confidence. When it is time for Shug to leave, Celie feels as though she should leave as well but she doesn’t have enough courage to face Mister and leave. Towards the end of the movie when Shug returns, Celie has gained courage and self-esteem after and Shug find the letters that Nettie had been writing her.
*Nettie, Sofia, and Shug are all heroes’s to Celie because they each give her something she needs, hope, love, and courage.
Vanny Aracena said...
Compare and contrast the different females characters in The Color Purple.What generalizations does Walker make about the females?
Through out the movie The Color Purple the women in the movie were affected so much by the men. They had important parts in the story that reflects on how the women in the 20th century were treated. They were not wives but treated like slaves to the men. Three women that had a major affect in the film were Celie, Shug, and Sofia.
-Celie:
Stepdaughter of Alphonso, wife of Mister, Sister of Nettie, and Mother of Adam and Olivia. As a young girl she was raped and abuse by her step father and constantly told she was ugly. Her father had took her children away and sold them to another family. She was always abused physical and emotionally by Mister. She never really fights back against mister or her father .She grows a close relationship with a blues singer Shug Avery. She looked up to Shug as a role model. Once Shug moves in with Celie and Mister she learns to fight back. By the end of the film she fights back and expresses her feelings against his abuse. She eventually becomes independent, happy, and a successful woman
-Shug:
Old flame and friend of Mister. She forms a friendship with Celie and helps her become more confident about herself and find her inner and outer beauty. When you first met Shug she is negative. As their friendship grows she becomes a mother, friend, teacher, lover, sister, and confidant for Celie. She helped Celie look at the bright side and help her with her new life.
-Sofia:
Wife of Harpo and mother of his children. Sofia is a large, fiercely independent woman who befriends Celie and marries Harpo. Sofia refuses to slave to whites, men, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. After defying the town’s mayor, Sophia is sentenced to twelve years in jail, but the sentence is later commuted to twelve years labor as the mayor’s maid. Sofia hardships endure serves as a reminder of the costs of resistance and the difficulties of combating cultural and institutional racism.
These women were abused, raped and treated like slaves but that what made them stronger. These women transformed into strong independent women. They believe that all the trouble they went through made them change for the good in them
Shyanne Reveron said...
Explain who you believe is the hero in the novel, and why?
~ A hero is in most novels or movies, but most the time the hero is portrayed in a male figure; however in the color purple the hero to me is Celie because even after all the abuse her stepfather and husband put her through she still managed to let it all go and stand up for herself. Celie was raped by her stepfather; she had two children by him and he sold them. then her stepfather made her marry MR., MR. treated Celie lick his own personal slave. Gor a while Celie believed every thing that MR. told her(he told her she was ugly, she couldn't cook, that all she was good for was taking care of him).It was not untill she found the letters that her sister sent her, she stood up for herself; i believe that it took a real hero to leave a man in the that time period and for that Celie is a true hero to me.
Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why?
A hero is a person of distinguised courage, and there usually admired for brave deeds.In the novel/film The Color Purple, the hero is Celie. The film is very powerful but emotional and focuses on African American women. Its shows there struggles and what they had to go through. The main character Celie was physically and verbally abused.She was constantly bossed around by Mr. During her struggles she becomes friends with Shug Avery,who becomes short of kinda like Celie's role model. Shug helps Celie to find herself and let her know she doesnt have to go through this. Celie was very scared to stand up for herself she had many oppurntunities but she had to find the strength on her own. Celie does eventually tell Mr. that shes not going to live like this anymore. They exchange words leaving him to feel like the idiot that he is. Celie leaves with Shug to start her life over and find her children. Relieved from all the pain and misery she went through living there, Celie finally finds herself. A hero is a person who distinguises courage and I think Celie shows a great deal of courage in this story. Sticking up for not only herself but alot of other African American Women who couldnt do it themselves.
Explain who you believe is the hero of the novel and why?
`I believe Celie is the hero of the film. She puts everyone else's
problems and situations before her own. She does what everyone else says to do and she is always broken down but still finds a way to stay strong specifically through her readings.
`Celie was one of the main characters of the film, "Color Of Purple". It starts off as her being a 14 year old girl who is pregnant, and even then gets put down when her stepfather, who she believes is her real father, and is the father of her two own children, calls her ugly after telling her and her sister Nettie to come in for dinner.
She is forced to "never tell nobody but god" and that "it would kill her mother" when it comes to the subject of the rapings by her stepfather and him being the childrens father in which the mother finds out anyway and dies. Both of her children, Olivia and Adam, are taken away from her right from birth and given to a family who her sister ends up building a strong bond before, and the mother is a lady that Celie has actually met before while being married to mister Albert Johnson. She is then sold her to marry, to a man named Albert Johnson who originally comes for her sister but the father wouldn't let him so he had to, without any kind of her say, take Celie instead. She is abused and basically forced to be sexually active with Albert from a young age until seperated and because of Albert is seperated from her sister when the sister visits and doesn't want to be with Albert and decides to fight back. He keeps all the letters Nettie sends from Africa to her for years and continues to ignore her whenever she says, "any mail come for me?".
`She takes care of Mister (Albert) and his children for many years one of the main and troublesome ones being Harpo. She takes care of Shug Avery who is a woman Albert had dated and brings her home one night and from the start she talks bad to her calling her ugly and more. But they soon build a very strong bond and friendship for many years even after she leaves Albert, which she does with Shug and Shug's husband. She helps out Sophia when she comes back home from jail after many years and has to work for the lady, Ms. Millie, and has to look for Ms. Millie's groceries, she takes the list from her hand and retrieves all of the items for her and lifts Sophia's spririts when she thought she was all alone.
` She is always broken down but stays strong specifically through her readings. She stays strong when everyone from her stepfather, to Albert, to Shug, and more, calling her ugly. She stays strong also when her sister is seperated from her just because she did not want to sleep with an older man who admired her (That person being Albert) and being seperated from her children from the moment they were born, not knowing them or what they are saying since they were in Africa when being reunited and also having to have the children at the young age of 14 by her stepfather, who until her died she believed was her real father which also caused a bit of relief because she know knew it wasn't incest and her children were not her brother and sister. Finally, she stays strong through all the years of abuse, from really, the time she was born until her 40's because of the times they were in and the way women, especially African American, were viewed at the time and by so many different people, her stepfather, her husband, and many more but she still finds a way to get through it all and finally becomes free when she gets older (Early to Mid 40's). he stays strong and in just enough time she begins to live a happy life with all her friends she's mad over the years and her family who have finally come back from Africa thanks to Albert after they were seperated going to the immigration office. She was given happiness late, but she still got it by staying strong and getting by through all that time.
Explain who you think the “hero” in the novel and why?
-Many people have their own definitions of what a hero is. My definition of a hero is someone who overcomes hardships in their own life, and helps others overcome theirs. In the novel and movie The Color Purple, most people suspect the main character Celie to be the hero. But I believe that there were in fact two heroes in this novel, Sofia and Shug Avery. They both were the reason why Celie found the courage to leave Mister, otherwise known as Albert.
-Sofia is an outspoken and independent woman who becomes friends with Celie and marries Mister’s eldest son Harpo. Sofia refuses to submit to white people, men in general, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. After defying the town’s mayor, Sofia is sentenced to twelve years in jail, but the sentence is later commuted to twelve years labor as the mayor’s maid. The hardship Sofia endures serves as a reminder of the costs of resistance and the difficulties of combating cultural and institutional racism.
-Shug Avery is a blues singer who first appears as Mister’s concubine. Later on, Shug becomes Celie’s friend and eventually her lover, all the while remaining a gentle mentor who helps Celie evolve into an independent and assertive woman. Shug does not at first appear to be the mentoring kind, but she eventually nurtures Celie physically, spiritually and also emotionally. Shug gives Celie the idea of sewing pants for a living at the end of the novel.
- Mrs. Sofia and Shug Avery are the heroes in The Color Purple because they helped guide Celie to the understanding that she doesn’t have to take abuse or anything at all from Mister. If it wasn’t for Shug, Celie would’ve never found those letters from her sister Nettie and most importantly, Shug boosted Celie’s confidence and self-worth. It was Shug who insisted and demanded that Celie leave for Memphis with her and her husband. Sofia was the epitome of a strong, black and independent woman; an example of the way Celie should be. Both women were Celie’s heroes because they rescued her from hurt, pain, and sadness caused by Mister, otherwise known as Albert.
Compare & Contrast the different male characters in The Color Purple. What generalizations does Walker make about males?
In the movie the color purple many of the men were portrayed a certain way. All of the men felt dominant over the women in their lives and they mistreated them. Whether it was physical or mental abuse.
One of the main male characters of the book was Albert Johnson also known as Mister. He was the husband of Celie and father of Harpo (another main male character). Mister abused Celie physically and emotionally. He beat her and treated her like property just as white people treated their slaves. He also felt superior over Celie just as slave owners did. Mister ruined Celies self esteem and confidence. He told her she was "ugly, black, and couldn't be anything", because she didn't know anything.
Celies father was another male in the movie that mistreated women. He raped Celie and fathered her two children which he later sold. He threatens to kill Celie if she ever told her mother he raped her and her mother eventually died.
Harpo is Misters son. He was told by mister to treat his wife and mother of his children Sophia the same way he treated Celie. He told Harpo that's how Sophia would "mind". Harpo was taught how to treat women by his father and eventually beats his wife Sophia.
In conclusion I think the men in this movie treated women so horribly because that's what they were taught. Going back to being a slave, slaves were shown someone has the "upper hand" and is in charge. That's how these men treated the women, like they were in charge of them only because that's all they knew and all they had seen. When you don't know differently it's expected that you follow and do the same thing. That's exactly what these males portrayed in the movie.
- Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why.
A hero can be defined in many different ways but in my opinion the definition of a hero is one who never gives up, fights for whats right and maintains courage and this movie there are many heros.
The Color Purple consisted of many heroes but three main heroes stuck out to me the most. Celie, Shug Avery and Nettie were the three main heroes in the story and ironically they all were women. The Color Purple displayed how men were superior to women.
Celie the main character in the Color Purple has been oppressed by men her entire life and at a young adolescent age was raped by her father twice and eventually births two children by her father which are in result taken away from her. After having her children taken away from her, her father then gives her away to marry Mr. Albert Johnson. I view Celie as a hero because although she experienced many hardships and went through a hard life of being discouraged and raped she still kept courage. Celie always kept courage and never gave up on her younger sister Nettie, life or herself.
Shug Avery is a blues singer, Mr. Johnsons mistress and soon becomes Celies friend and eventually lover. I view Shug Avery as a hero as well because she worked hard to help Celie in her desperate time of need. Shug influences Celies to a life of independence, how she allows Mr. Johnson to treat her and also broadens her view on religon.. She is supplying Celie with even more hope and inspiration, letting Celie see that in the end it all works out for the best. Celie begins to model herself after Shug and in result Shug frees Celie from Mr. Johnsons bondage.
Lastly Nettie is Celies younger sister, whom Celie saves from living the tragic life she had to endure. Mr. Albert Johnson Celies husband is originally interested in Nettie because she is pretty. Nettie soon runs away from home to Celie, and Mr. Johnson forces her to leave because she refuses to sleep with him but when taken away from her Nettie promises to write Celie and tells her only God can keep them apart. I also view Nettie as a hero to because she never gave up on her sister Celie she teaches her how to read and write and also writes her letters from Africa to keep in touch. Nettie never gives up on Celie because family is important to her.
In conclusion there were many heroes in the movie The Color Purple but the three listed above are those who stuck out and meant the most to me. Overall, each hero above embodies the characteristic displayed throughout the movie and that is courage.
- Explain who you believe is the "hero" of the novel and why.
A hero can be defined in many different ways but in my opinion the definition of a hero is one who never gives up, fights for whats right and maintains courage and this movie there are many heros.
The Color Purple consisted of many heroes but three main heroes stuck out to me the most. Celie, Shug Avery and Nettie were the three main heroes in the story and ironically they all were women. The Color Purple displayed how men were superior to women.
Celie the main character in the Color Purple has been oppressed by men her entire life and at a young adolescent age was raped by her father twice and eventually births two children by her father which are in result taken away from her. After having her children taken away from her, her father then gives her away to marry Mr. Albert Johnson. I view Celie as a hero because although she experienced many hardships and went through a hard life of being discouraged and raped she still kept courage. Celie always kept courage and never gave up on her younger sister Nettie, life or herself.
Shug Avery is a blues singer, Mr. Johnsons mistress and soon becomes Celies friend and eventually lover. I view Shug Avery as a hero as well because she worked hard to help Celie in her desperate time of need. Shug influences Celies to a life of independence, how she allows Mr. Johnson to treat her and also broadens her view on religon.. She is supplying Celie with even more hope and inspiration, letting Celie see that in the end it all works out for the best. Celie begins to model herself after Shug and in result Shug frees Celie from Mr. Johnsons bondage.
Lastly Nettie is Celies younger sister, whom Celie saves from living the tragic life she had to endure. Mr. Albert Johnson Celies husband is originally interested in Nettie because she is pretty. Nettie soon runs away from home to Celie, and Mr. Johnson forces her to leave because she refuses to sleep with him but when taken away from her Nettie promises to write Celie and tells her only God can keep them apart. I also view Nettie as a hero to because she never gave up on her sister Celie she teaches her how to read and write and also writes her letters from Africa to keep in touch. Nettie never gives up on Celie because family is important to her.
In conclusion there were many heroes in the movie The Color Purple but the three listed above are those who stuck out and meant the most to me. Overall, each hero above embodies the characteristic displayed throughout the movie and that is courage.
Kennay DeShields
2. Explain who you believe is the "hero" in this movie and why?
In my opinion, there is more than just one hero in "The Color Purple". I believe that Celie, Sofia, and Shug are heroes. There were different types that described them. Celie was a rising hero, Sofia was a surviving hero, and Shug was a saving hero. They all play an important role in the movie. Heroes do not just have to be people who help others. They can be someone who is very inspiring to people of what they have done.
To start, Celie was a hero. She was a rising hero because she had overcome many things in her life. Celie had a very rough childhood. She had two children by her step-father that she never got to know. She was always beaten and raped by her step-father and her husband. She was later separated from her sister, Nettie. Her husband, Mr. Johnson would beat her and make her do everything around the house. He made her cook, clean, and take care of him and his children. She dealt with the life she was living because she had no choice but to. But at the end of it all, she was still strong and living.
Sofia was another hero in the movie. She was characterized as a brave woman. She was the lady that had to fight all of her life. She fought back all the time and did not care what the circumstances were. She was married to Harpo, who was Mr. Johnson's son. He would beat her many times and she would always fight back. She was tired of being scared of people. One crazy moment that happened to her was when she went to jail. She went there because she told the white people that wanted her kids "Hell No". The white man hit her and she hit him back. They beat her up so badly that she looked different. Then, she became a white lady slave. Sofia was a strong, black woman who survived much drama. But, she kept pushing on.
Finally, Nettie was a hero. She was Celie's little sister. After Celie got married to Mr. Johnson, Nettie wanted to live with them. She did not want to sleep with Mr. Johnson, so he kicked her out. They were separated for a very long time. However, Nettie was more of the intelligent one. She met some good people along her journeys and was living better. She would write Celie often, but she never received any of them until Shug showed her a recent one. She inspired Celie to remain to be strong and not discouraged. She was the reason Celie would smile. Her and Nettie were very close.
A hero, when the word hero comes to mind the first thing we think of is courageous, smart, and strong. But, that does not necessarily mean that a hero can't be a motivation. I believe the hero in this movie is Nettie and Shug Avery. They didn't need to be strong or courageous to be a hero but to be their expressing self. They mean so much to Celie and without them Celie would be a mistreated house wife.
Nettie was not in the movie much but the thought of her made Celie motivated to live. Just knowing that her sister is still alive meant that there will be a day that they will see each other. Like Nettie said, "Nothing but death can keep me away from her!" With that said, there was not one day that she did not write Celie a letter hoping that the letter will go to her sister. Getting to read her letter made her a stronger person, a person who was not afraid to stand up for herself.
Shug Avery, an independent and a care free woman. Her personality helped Celie be the woman she was after she had left Mr. Celie became a successful tailor making clothes for money. If it was not for Shug Avery Celie would not have gain confidence. Who would have known that Shug, herself, can help build confidence. This confidence made her stand up to her abusive husband and made something out of her life. Being able to life her dreams.
If these two women was not the one of the hero in this movie then I don't know who is. They were able to change an individual for the better and I believe that is what a real hero also is. My definition of a hero would be Nettie and Shug.
Barry Smith
Mr. Jobs
African American History 04/30/12
*Compare and contrast the problems of Black Americans in the early 1900's with those of modern Black Americans.
In The color purple, we watched as the movie portrayed stories of how blacks lives were in the early 1900s. The movie showed us what their problems were, whether how small or big. As it seems though the problems of African Americans in the early 1900s are not so different then the African Americans of today. Although, there are some problems that can differentiate the two.
Some of the problems that African Americans of back then and today have in common are the abusive relationship. Many African American women back then suffered in an abusive relationship and it is no different in today’s society. Even though many African American women today are stronger, have more will power, and also have more rights, many also deal with an abusive partner. Dealing with an abusive partner seems as though it has not changed even if the times have.
Something that differentiates African Americans of the early 1900s and African Americans of today’s society is the fear of the Caucasian race. Post-reconstruction was happening during the early 1900s and this meant that even though blacks were free, they still had to live under the eye of most white. In today’s society, everyone is equal. Even though there is still racism in America, it is not a problem for the blacks of today. Everyone race is entitled to the same thing no matter what.
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