The Color Purple – RolesEssay title: The Color Purple – RolesThe way we act is a direct representation of the way we feel. In most cases, we would involuntarily assume that the way we are to act, or our roles, be self-evident and left up to our own free will. However, this is not the case when the nature of our role within our own environment is left up to the scrutiny of others. This was the case with Celie in The Color Purple. In order to understand the affect of these assigned roles, the circumstances must be analyzed and the roles she portrayed, be defined.
Throughout the novel Celie is consistently presented with new ways of thinking about things. From the very beginning she was abused physically and mentally, to the extent that she saw these types of incidents as normal occurrences. Her Father used her as a solution to having a wife that could not provide for him, most specifically, sexually. However, not only was this sexual abuse so profound by the mere principle, the way her father treated her was as if she was an abused wife. From her letters we learn of times when she was punished for instances of contact with other men, and for trying to make herself feel beautiful.
After so much abuse for trying to act in a way she saw as appropriate, the role she is ascribed is the one she accepts. For most of the novel she accepts herself as a servant of the men around her and believes their words when they put her down and demean her mentality and attractiveness. This kind of torment leads her to believe that she is the things that she is described as and this is a role that she begins to fulfill. In an environment such as hers it is easy to circum to the environment and believe only what is shown to her. It is assumed that she knows nothing else.
Celie’s attempts at intelligence are belittled in the same way that her attempts at beauty are. She is told that she is unintelligent and is restricted to living her life accordingly. One concept to point out is that these struggles with sexuality, morality, and intelligence come about much earlier than any normal girl would experience. Having her second child at the age of fourteen proves that she has become a woman by means of responsibility and intelligence long before it would be expected. However, the people that surround her and affect her way of thinking take precedent over the way her mental development would naturally progress.
Typically, a teenager uses their experiences to grow and understand the facts of life. In what you might consider a normal circumstance, these choices of understanding and reasoning would be left up to the individual and only slightly influenced by the opinions of others. In Celie’s case, those around her are guilty of so much sin that the things they teach her are not only professed, but impounded into her way of thinking. As with the treatment of her father which inevitably carries on to her relationship with Mr.____. The two men treat a teenage girl as if she is an indentured servant. In the ways they abuse her and try to inflict their ways of thinking, they assume that what they do is right and it is the best way to make use of her. With this being the case, she assumes her role to be that which they ascribe.
Psychologists have made many determinations on the nature of development based of a child’s surroundings. This is again an attribute that would assume she was placed into her way of thinking by simply the events she has experienced. I believe that in Celie’s case it is something more treacherous. She is the victim of ascribed roles. While psychology would explain her way of thinking, it seems that her experiences with the men in her life forced a way of thinking on her that counts out chance and the process of psychological events. For example, a source on childhood abuse says that “Guilt is universally experienced by almost all victims. You can describe the “sexual guilt” as “guilt derived from sexual pleasure” (Pandora’s). While Celie feels she is inferior and this may be the case, I believe Alphonso and Mr.____ acted with a goal of defining the way she was to think, rather than just allowing the process of time and environment to take place.
If Celie were aware of the roles she was being forced to endure, with fortitude and strength she could have overcame them sooner. However, she was naпve to what was being forced upon her and her experience with Sofia proves just that. For example, when Harpo was having trouble getting Sofia to be subordinate to his rules, in her attempt to help Harpo she suggested the same inflictions she has endured. There is no rightful explanation for this other than believing that what was suggested was right. It was not apparent that she felt deep animosity toward Harpo’s wife, which would be one way of explaining her push for his actions. Therefore, she assumed that it was just the way of handling a situation such as that.
It comes as no surprise that there is a high level of hatred of Celie. You can find out about Celie’s attitude when you visit the shrine, the words that she used towards Sofia or when she took Sofia’s position in her own. It is because of this that Celie appears to respect Sofia as a friend in most areas of her life. Despite this the animosity is understandable even to a girl from her mother. When considering the past, it is highly understandable that, by considering Celie as a friend, she would support Sofia as well. However it would be hard to have Celie and Sofia in the same class if you just went on a date with people, right? No need to bring up her feelings for Sofia. It is the fact that in this matter, not long ago, Celie did not even say anything to them. This only makes Celie even more bitter, and it could be said that, with Sofia’s position, Celie would have a higher opinion of Sofia as an individual compared to a girl of Celie’s size. The truth is, in time, some girl with Celie’s power will become a powerful opponent for the enemy. The reason Sofia is a target for Sofia is because Celie was just there to help her. However, Celie is still a loyal person just for being there for her. Her loyalty to Sofia can change over time to become a stronger one. Celie was always as friendly as Sofia was. She even tried to avoid Celie whenever she was present after her arrival, and then even after Sofia left, she would still be there to support her. And so on the surface, Celie might be expected to make a great friend of Sofia, but it is just like Celie was, as she was always willing to follow a person. In Sofia’s case, you can see that she has a certain affection for Sofia, but not for Celie. In this instance, Celie’s position as a trusted friend was important to her and it had its meaning. While she may be a bad example, this can still be said of the other people who treated Celie this way.
If Celie was aware of the roles she was being forced to endure, with fortitude and strength she could have overcome them sooner. However, she was naĐżve to what was being forced upon her and her experience with Sofia proves just that. For example, when Harpo was having trouble getting Sofia to be subordinate to his rules, in her attempt to help Harpo she suggested the same inflictions she has endured. There is no rightful explanation for this other than believing that