The Color Purple Masculinity Analysis
Many readers and critics have criticised Walker’s representation of African-American men. Why do you think this is? How might you defend Walker’s treatment of masculinity in TheColor Purple?
In Walkers novel 'The Color Purple' she discusses the issues of racism, domestic abuse, sexuality, tradition, gender roles, family, love and spirituality in the 20th century African American culture, drawing on personal experience from her own life and understanding. Through the eyes of Celie, a poor, barely educated, 14 year old black girl, we are introduced to this past community and through Celies interpretations we gain a better understanding of it. A major theme in the novel is the topic of masculinity. Walkers portrayel of masculinity becomes controversial when it is projected to us through the characters of Mr., Harpo, Celies father and Mr's. father. These characters are all african american men and are revealed to us as essentialy weak, abusive men, without understanding of the emotional needs and struggles of the women with whom they share their lives with. These men are made to represent all of the african american men of this time period.
Many people were outraged by the contents of the book for the representation of african …show more content…
By way of this walker is giving us the tools to a new perspective a perspective in which the mans rôle is not so different from the females, like her he is the victim and indeed throught the novel the roles of gender stereotypes are challenged. This comparison and blending of gender is an important theme to the novel as walker is trying to make us understand that the differences between the man and the woman are not as abvious as you would initially believe they are. Most major characters throughout the novel disregard the stereotype(or learn to) and therefore grow as people, shrugging off the expectations set on them thriving within and without
In Walkers novel 'The Color Purple' she discusses the issues of racism, domestic abuse, sexuality, tradition, gender roles, family, love and spirituality in the 20th century African American culture, drawing on personal experience from her own life and understanding. Through the eyes of Celie, a poor, barely educated, 14 year old black girl, we are introduced to this past community and through Celies interpretations we gain a better understanding of it. A major theme in the novel is the topic of masculinity. Walkers portrayel of masculinity becomes controversial when it is projected to us through the characters of Mr., Harpo, Celies father and Mr's. father. These characters are all african american men and are revealed to us as essentialy weak, abusive men, without understanding of the emotional needs and struggles of the women with whom they share their lives with. These men are made to represent all of the african american men of this time period.
Many people were outraged by the contents of the book for the representation of african …show more content…
By way of this walker is giving us the tools to a new perspective a perspective in which the mans rôle is not so different from the females, like her he is the victim and indeed throught the novel the roles of gender stereotypes are challenged. This comparison and blending of gender is an important theme to the novel as walker is trying to make us understand that the differences between the man and the woman are not as abvious as you would initially believe they are. Most major characters throughout the novel disregard the stereotype(or learn to) and therefore grow as people, shrugging off the expectations set on them thriving within and without