Color Purple :: essays research papers

The book called The Color Purple shows many of the topics discussed in class, but for the purpose of this paper I would like to discuss three aspects that are the most concerning and disturbing. The concept of the body, reproduction, and violence shown through the novel are the most prominent and key concerns seen in this literature selection that I would like to analyze in this expository essay. Beginning with the concept of the body, The Color Purple portrays a very graphic portrayal from the first pages. â€Å"She ugly† (Walker, 9). This gives the feel that the men have high standards of the women that are seen in this story of Black Southern Women. This also can be seen when Celie (the main character) holds on to a picture of Shug Avery (the woman she lets her husband have an affair with) because she is so beautiful. These are ideals seen in our culture as a whole. Women holding onto pictures of women in magazines and posters lead to the idea that the airbrushed picture is attainable and that is what the women of the world need to look like. The forerunner of this is visualized when this is what the men look at in their magazines. The view that men have of women is one of this sexual being waiting to be had. Celie holding onto this picture is the same as a woman today buying a magazine that appeals to her inferior parts. â€Å"I’m not as pretty or as smart†(10) is played on throughout the book as well as in our culture. Women of the world today need to be attractive to be someone, or so it seems. The same way Celie is a barefoot and pregnant housewife living her fantasy of a singer that is attractive. The epitome of the quotes that shows the sexuality associated with a women’s body is â€Å"right down there in your *censored* is a little button that gits real hot when you do you know what with somebody† (81). This allows the feeling of vulgarity in someone’s mind today, because talk of this sort is discounted. Throu gh this following quote it continues with other vulgarities that society does not accept â€Å"I kiss her back†¦Then us touch each other† (118). Mainly, because female sexuality as a whole is discounted and seen as a negative portrayal of our home lives.