LaeLonni Williams
Color Purple Final Exam

1. Celie's writing letters to God is known as an "epistolary form," because letters to God or in a religious context are called "epistles." Why does Celie write to God? What sorts of things can she tell God that she cannot tell others? What sorts of things does she learn to tell Shug that she is afraid to tell God? Does God ever listen to Celie? Celie rights to God because in the beginning of the book her step father says to her “You better not tell no one but God. It’d be kill your mammy.” Even though her mother dies I believe Celie still feels comfortable with only tell God and she may even be ashamed of whats going with her likes she is somehow responsible. Celie rights about her true feelings for the people around her such as Shug, Mr__, Nettie, her father, mother, Sophia, Squeak and Shug’s husband. She also tells God about how it feels to be raped, mistreated and abused. Celie tells Shug about her sexual experience or lack of but doesn’t tell God. Celie often compares Shug to her mother. God does listen to Celie evident by her getting the strength to leave Mr__ and do something for herself. I believe God gave Shug to Celie ti help her overcome abuse and slavery by Mr__.
2. What role do you think Sofia plays in the novel? Describe her character and discuss how she contributes to the themes in the book.

Sophia is the first glimpse of a woman being in control of herself that Celie sees. Sophia refuses to be a slave to Harpo and chases after won happiness despite the role that Celie plays to Mr__. Mr__ and Celie advise Harpo to beat Sophia so that she will obey him. Sohpia fights Harpo back and leaves with her children and gets married. On the other hand Sophia’s strong will gets her arrested and she is sentenced to be the slave to the Mayor’s wife for her actions. In the time this novel was set in not only were women inferior to men but so African Americans were inferior to Caucasians and Sophia was both African American and a woman so her talking back to the Mayors wife and hitting the Mayor was not tolerated. Sophia still remained a strong woman behind bars and eventually learned to accept the rules of society and obey her “owner”.

3. How did Shug influence Celie's life before and after their introduction? Discuss both fully.

Before Celie met Shug she was taken by her beauty and class. She was a little obsessed with her flyer and wished she could meet her in person. She compared Shug to her mother but said Shug was meaner. After Shug came to the house he Celie became close and Celie confided in Shug and told her about Mr__ beating her she also told Shug about not enjoying sex with Mr__. Shug helped Celie find Nettie’s letters and also helped Celie find herself, which led to Celie leaveng Mr__ and going to find out about her biological parents and confronting her step father.

4. Why is the " _____" in "Mr. _____?"

I believe the ___ after Mr represents any man from those times. They all seemed to be controlling and superior to women. ___ was used to describe the abusive men in the story. This could symbolize emptiness and sens of “who are they” and “why do they feel they can do this to woman” a blank space.

5. What insight do we get from Mr.____’s character after seeing him attempt to flirt with Nettie? He wanted a young pretty wife to have sex with and to take care of him and his children. He had no morals or respect for women or children.
6. Compare the relationship Mr.____ has with his father to the one that he has with his son. Is there any real difference in these relationships or is it a cycle of abuse from father to son? Mr__’ father is arrogant, demeaning and degrading just like Mr__ any be even a little more meaner. Mr__ is afraid to stand up to his father just like Harpo is afraid to stand up to Mr__. Mr__ lives his life the same way by treating Harpo like his father treated him. He advises Harpo to beat his wife like he beats Celie but it back fires on Harpo when Sophia fights back and eventually leaves Harpo. Harpo is afraid to tell the truth about the injuries he gets from Sophia’s beatings because he knows his dad would not approve. Harpo tries to gain weight to stand up to Sophia but that doesn’t work either. Mr__ does change towards the end realizes that he was mean and mistreated Celie and tries to get her to stay. I do believe it is cycle but one that was about to be broken because of Mr__ actually wanting to treat Celie an equal rather than dominate and abuse her.
7. Compare Walker's representations of rape in this book--especially Celie's rape by a Black man, and Squeak (Mary Agnes)'s rape by a white man. What is going on here? What is Walker saying about sexual violence and womens' reactions to it? In the black community it was ok to rape your wife whether she is an adult or child but when squeak is raped by her uncle, who is white, it is not ok. I think Walker was showing during those times it was socially accepted to be forced to have sex with your husband but not by a stranger. Even though there is no difference rape is rape. It was accepted by woman in their marriages and families.
8. How is it shown that Celie has matured? Discuss all aspects. Celie's innocence was taken from her when she was raped by her step father. Losing her mother, sister and children and such a young age caused her to mature very early. When Mr___ bought Celie and she became a wife and mother she was forced to be an adult. In another way Celie is also starting to mature as a women when she meets Sophia and Shug. Sophia is an independent woman who refuses to be a slave to her husband Harpo. She stands up to him and refused to beaten and worked life a slave. Shug is also a an independent woman who does what she wants and gets what she wants. Celie looked up to her and followed in her fooststeps. When Celie and Mr__ start to get along and Celie refuses to remarry him but says they can remain friends shows how she has matured from a scared little girl to mature independent woman..

9. Do you see Celie as victim or victor in The Color Purple? Explain your position fully I see Celie as a Victor and a Victim. Celie is a victim in the beginning of the story when she abused, raped and confused about what is going on in her life. When Celie starts to mature and sees the light she transforms into a victor because she overcomes all of her hardships and turns into an independent strong woman.
10.What is the significance of the "I am I have always been..." on the first page? Now, I think this statement is telling of Celie’s path to independence. Saying that she was confused and unsure in the beginning but now she knows and is confident that she is and always was a good girl despite all the bad things that happened to her.