The Color Purple
Marisha Twillie
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is a story written by Alice Walker and is about the life of an African American woman named Celie who lived in the South. Celie wrote about all the horrible events that have happened in her life such as getting raped by her stepfather, her children being taken away and sold, and how she was beat by her husband Mister. This is not only a story about growing up into womanhood but about the lives and stories of African American women from the times of share cropping. It also tells how women lived in a racist and sexist world of the nineteenth century. In this paper I argue that Shug is the foil character. First examples of how Shug is the foil character will be presented. Second, the theme of the color purple represents will be discussed. Third, the ways in which Shug influenced how Celie viewed God will be given.
Shug the Foil
Shug is the foil character of the novel in that she is a minor character whose personality is the opposite of Celie’s. Shug’s strong and outspoken personality highlights Celie’s shy and quite personality. For example, Shug is different from Celie because she is a physically beautiful woman who is outspoken. She is also a very confident woman who expresses herself through her singing and her sexuality. Shug helps Celie to realize that she is a beautiful smart woman that is loved when she tells Celie, “If you was my wife…I’d cover you up with kisses stead licks, and work hard for you too” (Walker, 1982, p. 115). Celie and Shug eventually fall in love and have a relationship. She gives Celie one of her first healthy relationships when they become lovers. She changes Celie’s thoughts on life, religion, beauty, and love.
The Theme of Purple
Due to her relationship with Shug, Celie learns to see the color purple as representative of beauty. Before her relationship with Shug, Celie has a difficult time seeing and appreciating the positive aspects of her life. Shug tells Celie
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is a story written by Alice Walker and is about the life of an African American woman named Celie who lived in the South. Celie wrote about all the horrible events that have happened in her life such as getting raped by her stepfather, her children being taken away and sold, and how she was beat by her husband Mister. This is not only a story about growing up into womanhood but about the lives and stories of African American women from the times of share cropping. It also tells how women lived in a racist and sexist world of the nineteenth century. In this paper I argue that Shug is the foil character. First examples of how Shug is the foil character will be presented. Second, the theme of the color purple represents will be discussed. Third, the ways in which Shug influenced how Celie viewed God will be given.
Shug the Foil
Shug is the foil character of the novel in that she is a minor character whose personality is the opposite of Celie’s. Shug’s strong and outspoken personality highlights Celie’s shy and quite personality. For example, Shug is different from Celie because she is a physically beautiful woman who is outspoken. She is also a very confident woman who expresses herself through her singing and her sexuality. Shug helps Celie to realize that she is a beautiful smart woman that is loved when she tells Celie, “If you was my wife…I’d cover you up with kisses stead licks, and work hard for you too” (Walker, 1982, p. 115). Celie and Shug eventually fall in love and have a relationship. She gives Celie one of her first healthy relationships when they become lovers. She changes Celie’s thoughts on life, religion, beauty, and love.
The Theme of Purple
Due to her relationship with Shug, Celie learns to see the color purple as representative of beauty. Before her relationship with Shug, Celie has a difficult time seeing and appreciating the positive aspects of her life. Shug tells Celie