The-Color-Purple

BlackWritersAbouttheauthor•Blackwomencansurviveonlybyrecoveringtherichheritageoftheirancestors.•--AliceWalkerInSearchofOurMothers'Gardens•AliceWalkerisawell-knownpoet,novelist,essayist,educator,biographer,andeditor.Theabovequotecharacterizesnotonlyherworks,butalsoherasaperson.Shefeelsthatablackwoman'ssalvationcanonlycomefromreachingtowardstheirancestorsanddrawingfromtheirenergy.•1.AliceWalkerwasbornonFebruary9,1944;•2.WhenAliceWalkerwaseightyearsold,shelostsightofoneeyebyaccident;•3.Inhighschool,AliceWalkerwasvaledictorianofherclass,whichmadeitpossibleforhertogotoSpelman,acollegeforblackwomeninAtlanta,Georgia.AfterspendingtwoyearsatSpelman,shetransferredtoSarahLawrenceCollege,whereshereceivedherBachelorofArtsdegreein1965;LifeandEducation•AliceWalkerwasactiveintheCivilRightsMovementofthe1960's,andinthe1990'ssheisstillaninvolvedactivist.Shehasspokenforthewomen'smovement,theanti-apartheidmovement,andfortheanti-nuclearmovement.AliceWalkerstartedherownpublishingcompany,WildTreesPress,in1984.ShecurrentlyresidesinNorthernCalifornia.InvolvementinSocialMovement•1965-ToHellWithDying(shortstories)•1973-InLoveandTrouble:StoriesofBlackWomen(acollectionshortstories)•1976-Meridian《子午线》(novel)•1982-TheColorPurple(novel)•1989-TheTempleofMyFamiliar(novel)•1998-BytheLightofMyFather'sEyes(novel)MajorWorks•ShereceivedthePulitzerPrizein1983forTheColorPurple.Shereceivednumerousawardsandhonors.AliceWalkerisatherbestwhenportrayingpeoplelivingintheruralareaswherethewriterwasbornandgrewup.Asablackwriter,sheisparticularinterestedinexaminingtherelationshipamongtheblacksthemselves.Awards•AliceWalker'sTheColorPurple,publishedin1982,tellsthestoryofCelie,theprotagonistandnarratorandaBlackwomaninruralGeorgia.CeliewritesletterstoGodinwhichshetellsaboutherlife--herrolesasdaughter,wife,sister,andmother.TheColorPurpleBeginning•Celieisapoor,uneducated,fourteen-year-oldblackgirllivinginruralGeorgia.CeliestartswritingletterstoGodbecauseherfather,Alphonso,beatsandrapesher.Celiegavebirthtoagirl,whomherfatherstoleandpresumablykilledinthewoods.Celiehasasecondchild,aboy,whomherfatheralsosteals.Nettie•AmanknownonlyasMr.______wantstomarryNettie,Celie’sbright,prettyyoungersister,butAlphonsooffersMr.______the“ugly”Celieasabride.NettierunsawayfromAlphonsoandtakesrefugeatCelie’shouse.Mr.______stilldesiresNettie,andwhenheadvancesonhershefleesforherownsafety.NeverhearingfromNettieagain,Celieassumessheisdead.ShugAvery•Mr.______hasalovernamedShugAvery,asultryloungesingerwhosephotographfascinatesCelie.ShugfallsillandMr.______takesherintohishouse.ShugisinitiallyrudetoCelie,butthetwowomenbecomefriendsasCelietakeschargeofnursingShug.Sofia•Harpo,Mr.______’sson,fallsinlovewithandmarriesalarge,spunkygirlnamedSofia.CelieisamazedbySofia’sdefiance.Harpo’sattemptstobeatSofiaintosubmissionconsistentlyfail,asSofiaisbyfarthephysicallystrongerofthetwo.Intownoneday,themayor’swifeasksSofiatoworkashermaid.Sofiaanswerswithasassy“Hellno.”WhenthemayorslapsSofiaforherinsubordination,shereturnstheblow,knockingthemayordown.Sofiaissentsentencedtoworkfortwelveyearsasthemayor’smaid.Development•Celielearnsfromthem.Shefindshersister’slettersandfinallyunitswithhersisterandherchildren.•CelieandShugmovetoTennessee.ThereCeliespendshertimedesigningandsewingindividuallytailoredpairsofpants,eventuallyturningherhobbyintoabusiness.CeliereturnstoGeorgiaforavisit,andfindsthatMr.______hasreformedhiswaysandthatAlphonsohasdied.Alphonso’shouseandlandarenowhers,soshemovesthere.End•CelieandMr.______reconcileandbegintogenuinelyenjoyeachother’scompany.Nowindependentfinancially,spiritually,andemotionally,CelieisnolongerbotheredbyShug’spassingflingswithyoungermen.SofiaremarriesHarpoandnowworksinCelie’sclothingstore.NettiefinallyreturnstoAmericathechildren.Emotionallydrainedbutexhilaratedbythereunionwithhersister,CelienotesthatthoughsheandNettiearenowold,shehasneverinherlifefeltyounger.•”Doesthefilmmirrorthesesentiments?