Sofia In The Color Purple

Friendships often evolve over time and can be tempered in the fires of conflict. This is particularly true for Sofia and Celie from The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Their friendship is put to the test when Celie advocates for Sofia to be beaten by her husband. When she and her husband fought, they accidentally wrecked a gift from Celie to Sofia: curtains. After reconciling, Celie and Sofia repurpose the curtains into a quilt. The torn curtains represent Celie’s and Sofia’s broken relationship, and as they are transformed into a quilt, their relationship mends and endures. While the curtains are tattered, so too is the friendship of Celie and Sofia. Celie initially gifted curtains to Sofia as a display of camaraderie; thus establishing the curtains as a representation of their amicable relationship. Celie intended for the gift to bring her and Sofia closer together, and to show her affection for Sofia. Eventually, however, the two women are at odds. Celie has neither the emotional nor the physical strength to fight for herself (Walker, 40). Thus, subconsciously, she has some level of animosity towards the seemingly unbreakable Sofia. In other words, Sofia was capable where Celie failed, and this makes Celie resentful. Their true rift, however, came as a result of Celie’s actions: feeling jealous of Sofia’s strength, Celie suggested that Harpo, Sofia’s husband, beat his wife (Walker, 37). In doing so, Celie betrays Sofia and tears apart their bond. Harpo heeds her advice and fights against Sofia; while fighting, the couple unwittingly …show more content…
The curtains were originally a symbol of their friendship, but after they were wrecked, they become an embodiment of Celie’s betrayal. After the two reconcile, and turn the curtains into a quilt, they become closer. The quilt is the catalyst for their renewed friendship, as well as an icon for their bond Sometimes only the harshest flames can leave the strongest