Domestic Violence In Alice Walker's The Color Purple

The Color Purple (1983) is Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel which focuses on the issue of domestic violence as well as survival. This fiction-historical text is set between the two world wars (1915 – 1940) in the deep American South, Rural Georgia and is narrated by Celie, a vulnerable Afro-American woman. Celie sets the tone with her epistolary of confessional and uninhibited letters she writes privately to God. In first person, Celie expresses her story of poverty within segregation. Additionally, Celie depicts herself as a victim of abuse; a black woman with no rights who is ignored and marginalised within her society. Conversely, Celie’s letters empower her to secretly break the silence that is imposed upon her. Walker highlights how black women, such as Celie, were neglected, violated and oppressed. Walker evokes feelings of empathy and compassion in the reader. Additionally, it is clear through Walkers’ portrayals of her characters that she is against both domestic violence and inequality.
Domestic violence is illustrated in depth through Walker’s careful accurate-to-life characterisations. Each character exemplifies the …show more content…
Women were considered the property of men, they had no worth and were treated appallingly. Women of this era would endure all forms of abuse from men, as they had no other choice. There is recurring evidence of male domination throughout the novel, for example, when Mr.____ is asked why he beats his wife, Celie, he replies, “cause she’s my wife”. Even so, Walker offers the inspiring message that women can become empowered through evading domestic violence, this is evident with her advocacy for feminism which is symbolised by the wearing of pants throughout the novel plus the message; women must stand up against the unjust behaviour of male domination by means of helping one