The Symbolic Features in The Color Purple.docx
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The Symbolic Features in The Color Purple.docx
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TheSymbolicFeaturesinTheColorPurple
TheSymbolicFeaturesinTheColorPurple
Abstract
TheColorPurpleiswrittenbyAliceWalker,awell-knownAfricanAmericannovelist.Thematically,itisfirstandforemostaboutAfricanAmericanwomen’sgrowthagainstthesocialoppression,especiallythespiritualworldofthewomenlivingatthelowestrung.Celie,theheroineofthenovel,hasbeenexposedtoabuseofvariouskinds,butfinallyreconstructstheself-esteemandgetstheconsciousnessofwomen’srights.Inthenovel,thereareseveralsymbolicfeaturesdenotingcertainmeanings,whicharethecolorpurple,God,letters,pants,etc.EachofthemsymbolizesaspecificperiodofCelielifethatreflectshersufferingsandsurvivals.
Keywords:
thecolorpurple;symbolicfeatures;feminism
摘要
《紫色》是美国黑人女权作家艾丽丝•沃克的著名作品之一。
从主题意义上讲,这部作品是关于美国黑人妇女抵抗压迫的发展历程,尤其描述社会最底层妇女的精神生活。
小说的主人公西莉曾遭受过残酷的虐待,但她最终重新获得女性尊严和女权意识。
在整部小说中,紫色、上帝、信件等具有象征性的意象在故事发展的不同时期以其特有的象征内涵出现在其中。
它们均反应出西莉在不同生活阶段所遭受的境遇和艰难的抗争。
关键词:
紫色;象征性意象;女权运动
Contents
Introduction-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
Ⅰ.Thesymbolicfunctionsofcolors--------------------------------------------------------------------------4
1.1.Purple--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
1.2.Red-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
1.3.Black--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
1.4.Yellow-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
Ⅱ.ThereflectionsofCelie’sinnermind--------------------------------------------------------------------7
2.1.Letters-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
2.2.God----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
Ⅲ.Activitiesofblackwomen-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
3.1.Quilting-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
3.2.Pants-making---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
3.3.Blues-singing---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
3.3.1.TherelationsbetweenBlues-singingandcolors--------------------------------------------------------11
Ⅳ.Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
Ⅴ.Bibliography----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Introduction
AliceWalker,anoutstandingAfro-Americanwomanwriter,denotesherselftofeminismandwomen’sidentify-seeking.Hermasterpiece,TheColorPurple,dealswithblackwomenintheruralSouthduringthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcentury.Itisaboutthemaincharacter,Celie,whohasbeenencounteredwithphysicallyandemotionallyabuse,eventuallygetsself-reconstructionandleadsherownlife.ThethemeofTheColorPurplereflectsWalker’sdesiretoblackwomen’sself-worth,whichsuggeststheauthor’spositiveattitudetowardslife.
Ⅰ.
1.1.Purple-----Symbolizingindependenceandelegance
Purplesymbolizeselegance,authorityanddignity.Atthebeginningofthestory,Celiedoesnotwearpurpleclothes,whichsuggeststhatshehasnotgotindependenceandself-identity.OwningtoShug’shelp,Celiebeginstomakealivingbyherself,getsindependenceoneconomy.ShesetsupFolksPantsUnlimitedCompany,andthenmakespantsforoneofhersisters,Sofia.Shechoosesredandpurpleinthepants,whichshowsthatCeliebeginstogetdignity.Attheendofthestory,decoratedwithredandpurple,shepossessesherownhouseandgetsanythingshelikestoadornherroom.Thechangingofcolorsindicatesthat,facedwiththefuture,shebecomesoptimistictowardslife.Albert,thehusbandofCelie,hascarvedapurplefrogtoherasagift.ItdenotestherecognitionforCelie,theequalityofblackmenandwomen,andtherespectthattheblackwomenregain.
Meanwhile,purplestandsforhomosexuality.Whenblackwomenareoppressedandhavenorighttomakeresistance,homosexualityisawayforthemtodeveloptheirownlifestyle.Influencedbythetradition,itisalsotheculturalextensionofblackwomen.Inordertogetridofmen’scontrol,womenshouldjointogether,caringthemselves,andlovingeachother.Onlyinthiswaycantheybecomestrongandindependence,whichcontributestogainingtheirself-identity.
Inthestory,itisShug’slovethathelpCelietoreconstructherselfphysicallyandemotionally.Beforeshecomes,Celielivesforherdistantsisterpessimistically.AllthechangestakeplacewhenshemeetsShug,akindheartedgirlfullofconfidence.Shughasareputationasawomanofdubiousmoralswhodressesscantily,hassomesortof“nastywomandisease,”andisabandonedbyherparents.However,CeliegraduallygetssomethingmoreinShug.WhenshelooksatShug’sphotos,sheisattractedbyShug’suniqueappearancewhichcallsupthememoryofhermother.Withtheirrelationshipdeveloping,Shugtakestherolesofmother,sister,lover,andfriend.SheenlightensCelietorealizethemysteryofbodyandsexuality.Givingherasenseofbelonging,Shugencourageshertofightforindependenceandfreedom.Themostimportantis,itisShugwhofreesCeliefromoldideas.InfluencedbyShug,CeliegetsafreshunderstandingofGod.ShebelievesthatGodmeansspirit,andhestandsforhuman’sidentity.Fromthenon,Celiebeginstostriveforindependence,equalityanddignityofbeingawoman.Afterseveralyearsformakingefforts,Celiecomesintothepropertythatisrightfullyhersandbecomesindependent.Sheachievesrebirth.Allthetimesheprospers,Alert,herhusband,goesdownslope.Heloseshiswilltolife,becomesanalcoholic,andalmostdies.Hesurvives,becomesfriendswithCelie,andhelpsherwithhersewing.ItturnsoutthathehasforyearskeptNettie’sletterstoCelie.ThemomentCelieisinformed;sheextremelyburstsoutkillingherhusband.UndertheguideofShug,shegivesuprevengingandbeginstofeelhappyforknowingthatNettiehasbeenfinealltheyears,marriedtothemissionaryafterhiswifedies.CeliereadsNettie’slettersandstartstowritestoher.Thenshelearnsthatthemissionary’stwochildrenareadopted,andareinfactCelie’sbloodandflesh.TheycomebackfromAfricaandreunitewithCelie.Eventually,beingahappyandindependentwoman,Celiegetsapurpledresssymbolizingeleganceanddignity.
ThroughoutTheColorPurple,thereisnosexualitybetweenCelieandShug.Inturn,filledwithwarmth,theytakecareofeachotherandgraduallygrowself-awareness.AsforWalker,thoughhedoesnotspeakhighlyofhomosexuality,itisthefemalerelationshipthathelpCeliegetridofthemiserablecondition.Celie,whohasbeenenslavedbyherhusbandforseveralyears,isthirstyforthepurerelationshipbetweenblackwomen.Fortunately,itisessentialforhertopursueanindependentlife.Attheendofthestory,withMr._continuouslytakingcareofCelie,hertendencyofhomosexualityhasgraduallydecreased.Fromthenon,CeliebelievesthatshecanalsobehappywithoutShug.Eventually,shebuildsaharmonyrelationwithherhusbandandleadsahappylife.
Apparently,underthedominanceofmen,womenhavetojointogethertofightagainstmen’soppression.Walkerportraysfemalehomosexualityasameansforwomentosummonthecouragetotellstories.Thesestoriesallowthemtofightagainstoppressionandmen’sdominance.Relationshipsamongwomenformarefuge,providingreciprocalloveinaworldfilledwithmaleviolence.
PuttingTheColorPurpleasthetitle,Walkeraimstoestablishingthesocialstatusofblackwomen,evenencouragesthemtogainthedignityofemperor.Asforthedenotationofpurpleitself,itsymbolizesblackwomen’sindependenceanddignity.OnceCeliegetsself-identity,shecouldhavetherighttoenjoythepurple,hermostfavoringcolor.
1.2.Red-----Symbolizinghappinessandvigor
Redisthesymbolofenthusiasm,excitementandhappiness.BeforeCeliegetsfreedom,sheisnotallowedtobeinredduetoitsextremebrightness.Obviously,itisnotsuitableforCeliebecausesheneverfeelshappy.Sophiaisthefirstpersonthatmakesherquestionherlife.Sofiaisastrongblackwoman,whowillfightwithanyoneattemptingtobullyher.Havingacceptedthepatriarchalideologywithoutanyresistance,CelieissoenviousofSofia’scourageandstrength.However,facingSofia,shecannothideself-guiltyandconfessesherjealousy.SofiaforgivesCelieandtellshertostruggleforindependentlife.ShetellsCelie,“IloveHarpo,butIwillkillhimdeadbeforeIlethimbeatme”.Althoughsheisnotallowedtobeinbrightcolor,shestilldarestowearreddresses.Wheneverherhusbandattemptstocontrolhermind,sheneversubjectstohimbutfightsagainstherhusbandbravely.InCelie’sletter,shenotes,“ButnotSofia.Shedoeswhatshewants,don’tpaymenomindatall.Itrytobeather,sheblackseyes”(AliceWalker,1982:
66).WhatSofiasaysanddoessetsamodelofresistanceagainstmale’scrueldominance.
BesidesSofia,ShugisthepersonwholeadsCelieintoacompletelynewlife.Shug,whomCelie’shusbandreallywantstomarry,isalwaysinredwithcharmingstature.Shelivesonblue-sing
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