Color Purple Relationships

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a heart-wrenching novel that portrays a young girl, Celie, as a child wife living in the South struggling with the ability and knowledge of standing up for herself, mental and physical abuse, and the pain of not being loved and cared for. This story takes place during the early 20th Century in rural Georgia. During this time period, women were told only to serve others, to fulfill the interests of men rather than their own, given limited opportunities, and seen as inferior to men. Celie dealt with all of these struggles. For a period of her life, she had no one but God to consult with, but luckily several people enter into her life who love and support her. Throughout the book, many relationships are formed
Kate arrives to the house complimenting Celie about her housekeeping skills, child-raising abilities, and providing the family with satisfying food daily. Her first deed towards Celie is when she takes her out shopping, feeling Celie deserves new clothes. She is not only buying her a new dress; she is buying Celie a new sense of self-esteem and self-worth. Celie feels like maybe she does deserve the dress after all and is valued as a person by others. Afterward, Kate declares Harpo, Mr.____’s son, to never command Celie to carry in all of the water considering he is a mature young man who should help around the house. She is standing up for Celie and makes Celie realize that she does not have to do every devoir for the men because they are equally, if not more, capable of doing some of these tasks that she is expected to do. Harpo discloses Kate’s commands to his father, Mr.____ then mandates that Kate must leave. In the midst of the tears and swiftly packing her belongings, Kate advises Celie, “You got to fight them, Celie. I can't do it for you. You got to fight them for yourself” (Walker 21). Kate motivates Celie to stand up against Mr.____ and Harpo and expresses that she cares about Celie, wishing she can one day stand up for herself and acquire the respect she deserves. Kate is the first to make Celie
Celie dealt with many difficulties throughout her life, such as being mentally and sexually abused, being told to fulfill the interests of men rather than her own, given limited opportunities, and seen as inferior to men. Several people throughout the novel enter into Celie's life and provide her with the love and support she desperately needs. These people stand up for Celie, make her aware that how she is being treated does not have to be permitted, and continuously provide strength, confidence, and encouragement. In addition, they bestow kindness, generosity, love, support, and hope that fills the void in her heart that longs for acceptance and love. With everyone's willingness to help her, Celie is capable of becoming an overall stronger person who is able to defend themselves in all situations and feel accepted at the same time. The Color Purple validates the importance of friendship and its ability to alter someone's life