The Color Purple Setting Essay

In The Color Purple, the setting changes and gives a sense of perspective through the eyes of Celie and Nettie. The setting first starts at Celie and Nettie’s home, where Celie’s father consecutively raped her. Celie’s vulnerability begins in these tragic moments as a child. The setting makes a change to Albert’s house where Celie is forced to become his wife and be his maid. She is abused and raped by Albert, consequently, changing Celie’s emotions. She is no longer a happy young girl. As Celie ages, she remains miserable and longs to unite with her sister who ran away from home and moved to Africa. With the help from her love, Shug, they find that Albert has been hiding Nettie’s letters for years. Celie was filled with rage and her emotions later encouraged …show more content…
Her characteristics were altering and becoming beneficial to her. She could finally do what she wanted to do and be happy, for example, “I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time” (Walker 215). As Celie started to develop a passion for making pants, an inference can be made that a woman’s independence can only be shown by her own true desire and willingness to stand up for what she intends to accomplish. Celie proved that women can change and overcome difficult and grim obstacles by speaking up and following a new path, no matter where it leads.

Nettie starts off by leaving her father, Alphonso’s house and meets a couple that introduce her into a life of missionaries. They set sail for Africa and join the Olinka village. Nettie is often judged for being an educated woman, as well as, being unmarried and having no children. Throughout her time in Africa, she develops into a charismatic and progressive